Apple is entering a rare period of leadership transition as several senior executives prepare to leave, signaling the beginning of a succession phase that could define the company’s next decade. Hardware engineering chief John Ternus has emerged as the leading internal candidate to eventually take over from Tim Cook, according to a new report.
The information comes from Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter by Mark Gurman, which outlines how Apple’s executive reshuffling is accelerating after years of stability under Cook. The report also details the upcoming departure of longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and the growing uncertainty around other key executives, setting the stage for a generational leadership shift within Apple.
Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001 and has overseen hardware engineering since 2021, has become one of the company’s most visible figures. He now regularly leads product segments at launch events, including this year’s iPhone 17 lineup, reflecting growing confidence from Cook and Apple’s board. At 50, he represents a balance between experience and longevity, making him a realistic long-term successor who can extend Apple’s hardware-led strategy into its AI-driven future.
Jeff Williams’s planned exit marks a significant moment for Apple’s operations leadership. Williams, long seen as Cook’s natural heir, played a central role in maintaining Apple’s supply chain and manufacturing discipline. His transition out of the company indicates that Apple is redistributing those responsibilities across a new layer of leaders rather than elevating a direct replacement, a sign that Cook may be preparing for a smoother long-term handover rather than an abrupt succession.
The changes extend across Apple’s top ranks as environmental and social initiatives chief Lisa Jackson has reportedly discussed retirement, while hardware technologies head Johny Srouji, who led Apple’s transition to in-house silicon, is said to be evaluating his next steps. AI chief John Giannandrea’s position has also become less certain as Apple continues to expand its Apple Intelligence strategy and seeks external hires to strengthen its AI leadership. Together, these shifts reflect an organization gradually rotating out a generation of leaders who have been with Apple for more than a decade.
To balance these departures, Apple recently announced a new round of vice president promotions, reinforcing the next layer of management that runs day-to-day execution. Vision Pro engineer Fletcher Rothkopf was elevated to a broader hardware role, operations executive Omar Alwarid now leads procurement, and security engineering head Ivan Krstic has also advanced. These appointments suggest Apple is not only maintaining continuity but also investing in the next generation of executives who could define its product and technology roadmap.
For Apple, this leadership churn arrives as it faces critical decisions about AI, augmented reality, and future product lines. A Ternus-led Apple would likely continue Cook’s operational discipline while returning to a stronger engineering focus, doubling down on the seamless integration of hardware, software, and silicon that defines Apple’s ecosystem. His influence has already shaped Apple’s recent device engineering — from the iPhone 17’s structural redesign to the company’s push toward thinner, more efficient devices like the upcoming M5 iPad Pro.
Tim Cook, now 64, remains firmly in control and continues to deliver steady financial results. However, the growing visibility of Ternus, the wave of new promotions, and the gradual exit of long-serving executives indicate that Apple’s board is preparing for a thoughtful, staged leadership transition. Rather than a sudden change at the top, Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for continuity — ensuring that its next CEO inherits both a stable team and a clear strategic direction.
Apple has historically managed leadership transitions with precision, from Steve Jobs to Cook in 2011, and the same discipline appears to be guiding this moment. As Cook moves toward what could be the final chapter of his tenure, the signs point to John Ternus as the next figure to lead Apple into a new era defined by AI, silicon innovation, and deeper hardware-software integration.
