Apple announced on Monday that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive officer after 15 years in the role. The decision follows a decade and a half of leading the company through record growth and global expansion.
Cook took over from Steve Jobs in August 2011 after joining Apple in 1998. Under his leadership the company’s market value crossed the $4 trillion mark for the first time last year. Revenue rose from $108 billion in 2011 to more than $400 billion in the most recent fiscal year.
During his tenure Apple introduced major product lines including iPhone 12 to iPhone 16, expanded services such as Apple Music and Apple TV+, and launched the M1 chip family that shifted Macs to in-house silicon. The company also deepened its presence in China, where annual sales now exceed $70 billion.
Cook emphasized supply-chain responsibility and privacy as central policies. Apple became the first U.S. tech giant to publish an annual Supplier Responsibility Report in 2012. It also resisted bulk data collection, positioning itself as a privacy-focused alternative to competitors.
A search committee led by Arthur Levinson will oversee the transition while the board evaluates internal and external candidates. Cook will remain on Apple’s board and serve as chairman.
Source: techcrunch.com