# Apple CEO Tim Cook to step down, hand leadership to hardware chief

Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook will step down from the top role at the iPhone maker and transition to executive chairman, the company announced Sunday.

Cook will turn the CEO duties over to John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, effective September 1. Cook will remain involved with the Cupertino, California company as executive chairman.

The transition marks Apple's most significant leadership change in more than a decade. Cook, 64, has led Apple since August 24, 2011, when he succeeded co-founder Steve Jobs. During his tenure, the company's market value increased by more than $3.6 trillion.

Ternus, 51, joined Apple in 2001 and has overseen development of Mac and iPad products. He has spent more than two decades with the company, rising through the hardware engineering ranks.

Cook will remain as CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth transition, according to the company. Arthur Levinson, who currently serves as non-executive chairman of Apple's board, will step down from that role to allow Cook to assume the executive chairman position. Levinson will remain on the board of directors.

The leadership change takes effect September 1, 2025.