Apple has appointed John Ternus as its next chief executive officer, succeeding Tim Cook who led the company for over a decade. The announcement came from Apple board chair Arthur Levinson in a statement released late Wednesday. Ternus, currently Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has been with the company since 2008. He previously worked at Texas Instruments and holds multiple patents in semiconductor technology.
Ternus will officially take office on October 1, 2024, pending shareholder approval at the annual meeting next month. Analysts note his deep technical expertise will be crucial as Apple expands into artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Cook, who will remain on Apple’s board, praised Ternus in a memo to employees, calling him a "supersnill fyr"—a Norwegian phrase meaning exceptionally kind and capable.
The transition follows months of speculation about Cook’s succession plan. Ternus was selected after a global executive search led by Heidrick & Struggles. His appointment marks the first time Apple’s CEO role will go to someone who joined the company after Steve Jobs’ departure in 2011. Industry observers highlight his role in developing the M-series chips used in Mac computers and iPads.
Ternus’ leadership style contrasts with Cook’s operational focus. While Cook prioritized supply chain efficiency and share buybacks, Ternus has a reputation for fostering innovation in hardware design. His teams delivered the Apple Silicon transition, which replaced Intel processors across Mac products between 2020 and 2023.
Investors reacted positively to the news, with Apple shares rising 1.8% in after-hours trading. Bloomberg reported the move signals Apple’s commitment to long-term hardware innovation over short-term financial engineering.
Source: digi.no