John Ternus officially took over as Apple CEO on September 1, 2026, replacing Tim Cook, who led the company for 15 years. Ternus becomes only the third CEO in Apple’s modern history, after Steve Jobs and Cook. Unlike Cook, who is known for his expertise in operations and supply chain management, Ternus has spent most of his career in hardware engineering and product development. (Image: X/@theapplehub/@tim_cook)

Born on May 19, 1975, Ternus studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1997. During his college years, he was also a member of the university’s men’s swimming and diving team. The 51-year-old has worked at Apple for around 25 years and has been closely involved in the development of several major products. Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems, where he was involved in virtual reality hardware and display technology. (Image: X/@rubenhume)

Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and began working with the company’s product design team. His first projects included Apple’s external Mac displays. Over the years, he took on increasingly senior roles and eventually became responsible for major hardware categories. (Image: X/@BasicAppleGuy)

Ternus became Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and took charge of iPhone hardware engineering in 2020. In 2021, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, joining Apple’s executive team and reporting directly to Cook. (Image: X/@aaronp613)

When Apple announced the leadership change, Cook praised Ternus for his engineering expertise and leadership qualities. He described him as an innovator with the ability to lead Apple with integrity.  (Image: X/@theapplehub)

Under Ternus’ leadership, Apple’s hardware teams have worked across products including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro. His teams have also played a role in Apple’s transition from Intel processors to its own Apple Silicon chips. He has now taken charge at an important time for Apple. His early tenure will be closely watched as the company works to strengthen its artificial intelligence strategy and develop new products. (Image: X/@theapplehub)

His first major public test as CEO is expected to come soon, with Apple preparing for its upcoming product launches. The company’s next generation of iPhone and other hardware products will provide an early indication of how Ternus plans to lead Apple into its next phase. (Image: X/@javilosana)