Apple today announced that Tim Cook would be stepping down from the position of CEO in September and become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors. In the same breath, the company also announced Cook’s successor—John Ternus, currently senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.

Who is John Ternus?

Ternus holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to Apple, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems.

Ternus then joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and was named vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013. He moved to the executive team in 2021 as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.

Over the years, he has led hardware development across a wide range of products, contributing to launches in nearly every major category. His work has been central to the rollout of new product lines such as iPad and AirPods, as well as multiple generations of iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch.

The mind behind Apple’s M chips

Ternus’s leadership on the Mac has helped strengthen the category’s performance and global appeal, taking it to one of its strongest positions in its 40-year history. The standout achievement was the development and launch of Apple’s proprietary silicon chips for its Mac line of computers, swapping out Intel chips in 2020, thereby leading to soaring sales.

 The introduction of the MacBook Neo, a new laptop aimed at making the Mac ecosystem more accessible, is another feather in his cap.

More recently, his team led updates to the iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the slimmer iPhone Air, and the iPhone 17, positioning them as significant upgrades for users. Under his direction, AirPods have also seen major improvements, particularly in active noise cancellation and in features that support hearing health, including functionality comparable to over-the-counter hearing aids.

Ternus has also focussed heavily on improving product durability and reliability, introducing engineering approaches that enhance device resilience. He has contributed to advancements in materials and design aimed at reducing environmental impact, including the use of a new recycled aluminium alloy across product lines, the adoption of 3D-printed titanium in the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and improvements in repairability designed to extend product lifecycles.