Apple’s Biggest Leadership Shift in 15 Years Is Here: John Ternus Takes Over as CEO Just 8 Days Before iPhone 18 Event
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA: Apple has begun a historic leadership transition on September 1, 2026, with John Ternus taking over as chief executive and Tim Cook moving to executive chairman. Apple announced the succession in April, saying the board approved the plan unanimously after a long-term process.
The handover makes John Ternus Apple CEO from today, ending Cook’s tenure after more than 15 years. The transition puts a hardware-focused leader at Apple eight days before its scheduled September event.
Ternus officially takes the top job
Apple confirmed that John Ternus Apple CEO becomes effective September 1, while Cook remains involved as executive chairman. In a message to employees, Cook described Ternus as a brilliant engineer and thinker and said he had spent 25 years building Apple products. The elevation makes John Ternus Apple CEO central to Apple’s next product cycle.
Reuters reported that Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and has overseen teams connected to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods. The change is significant because Tim Cook steps down from the CEO position but does not leave Apple.
Cook leaves the CEO office, not Apple
The phrase Tim Cook steps down needs an important qualification. Cook is not retiring from Apple. Under the announced plan, he becomes executive chairman and will continue supporting selected company activities, including engagement with policymakers.
Cook has led Apple since 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs. Reuters said his tenure coincided with a huge increase in Apple’s market value, while Apple credited him with major product and services expansion. That makes Tim Cook’s steps down a leadership change, not an exit from Apple.
September 9 event becomes Ternus’ first major test
Apple has officially scheduled a special event for September 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Reuters said the company is expected to unveil its next iPhone generation, making the iPhone 18 launch one of the first major product moments of the new CEO’s tenure.
The iPhone 18 launch itself is not yet a confirmed product name from Apple. The company’s event page confirms the date but does not specify products. Reports, including Reuters, point to a new iPhone lineup and potentially a foldable model.
The scheduled event will shape the iPhone 18 launch narrative. For John Ternus, Apple CEO, expectations begin immediately.
Foldable iPhone remains a major expectation
The biggest uncertainty is the Apple foldable iPhone. Apple has not officially announced such a device, but Reuters reported that a foldable iPhone could appear at the September event.
That means Apple foldable iPhone coverage should still be treated as expectation rather than confirmation. Its final design, name, price and availability remain unconfirmed. The Apple foldable iPhone therefore remains a report-driven expectation, not a confirmed launch.
The succession arrives at a pivotal moment. Tim Cook steps down from the role that defined Apple for more than a decade, while Ternus inherits expectations for new hardware.
What this means for Apple
For consumers, the iPhone 18 launch will provide an early signal of how the new leadership era looks. The event could also determine whether the Apple foldable iPhone moves from reports into an official Apple product.
The timing is unusually compressed: John Ternus Apple CEO, takes office on September 1, and Apple’s September 9 event follows only eight days later. Tim Cook steps down as CEO while remaining inside the company, making the handover a change in leadership rather than a complete departure.
The shift also comes as the iPhone 17 era gives way to Apple’s next product cycle. For now, Apple has confirmed the leadership change and the September 9 event. The iPhone 18 launch and Apple foldable iPhone remain tied to expectations until Apple officially reveals what is coming.
