with financial Times’ Reports suggest Apple is preparing for a post-Tim Cook era, raising the question: who will actually take over one of the most powerful jobs in tech? Cook has led Apple since 2011, raising its valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion. However, as the company begins its next chapter – especially amid pressure to introduce new, innovative hardware and remain competitive in AI – the shortlist of potential successors is taking shape.
Tim Cook’s time at Apple may be coming to an end, report says
And at the top of that list is the man who insiders say is the most likely candidate: John Ternes.
John Ternes (front)
Ternes, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has the clearest path to the CEO role. After joining the company in 2001, he oversaw engineering for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods and played a major role in the transition to Apple Silicon. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he has touched literally every major Apple device of the modern era. With hardware at the center of Apple’s strategy — and Apple needing someone who understands the product pipeline inside and out — Turnus is widely seen as Cook’s successor. financial Times,
Craig Federighi
Federighi, Apple’s software chief, is the face of macOS and iOS, and is one of the company’s most public figures due to his mainstream appearances. Although he brings charisma and user-facing credibility, Apple tends to lean toward operations and hardware-minded leadership for the top job, making him a less likely but still notable contender.
mashable light speed
heel cue
Q oversees services including Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and the App Store. Services are a huge revenue engine for the company, but Cue’s expertise focuses on that specific ecosystem rather than Apple’s core hardware and operations. Still, as one of Apple’s longest-tenured executives, his name inevitably comes up in succession discussions.
katherine adams
As General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Legal and Global Security, Adams oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including corporate governance, privacy and global security. His background at Honeywell and deep experience in legal strategy make him intrinsically indispensable; However, historically, Apple has never fired a CEO from the legal side of the organization.
sabih khan
Apple’s chief operating officer, Khan oversees global operations, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics and AppleCare. Having been with Apple since 1995 and playing a key role in shipping almost every major Apple product, he fits the mold of classic Tim Cook more than anyone else besides Turns. If Apple wants to be a stable operations-first leader again, Khan is the alternative choice.
So who really is next?
All signs point to Turnus. He represents the product-first approach that Apple wants to maintain, he’s already leading the teams behind its most important devices, and insiders say the board is preparing for a change that prioritizes hardware expertise, according to financial TimesNothing is final – and Apple could still change direction – but right now, the Turnus is the only one worth looking at,