Tim Cook’s final day as Apple CEO is today. In an emotional memo to employees, he said handing leadership to John Ternus feels like the right moment after 15 years at the helm.
Cook became Apple’s CEO in 2011, two months before Steve Jobs passed away. Under his leadership, Apple grew from a $350 billion market cap company to a $4 trillion powerhouse, introducing the Apple Watch, AirPods, Vision Pro, and steering the company through the Mac’s transition from Intel to Apple silicon. Tomorrow, September 1, 2026, Ternus officially becomes CEO while Cook transitions to executive chairman.
What Cook said in his farewell memo
In the memo (via 9to5Mac), Cook emphasized gratitude toward Apple’s employees and expressed confidence in his successor. He wrote:
Team,
Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.
There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.
As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.
I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.
I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.
With all I have and all I am, I am always
Yours,
Tim
On social media, Cook posted a brief farewell: “Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO. My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration.”
Cook’s New Role as Executive Chairman
As executive chairman, Cook will manage Apple’s relationships with President Donald Trump and the Chinese government. According to Bloomberg, Cook has told Ternus he remains eager to handle any other tasks his successor deems necessary. Though Cook has mentioned plans to pursue outdoor activities and spend time at his vacation home in Palm Springs, he has told Apple staffers the company will remain his top priority, saying he “can’t imagine it any other way.”
Arthur Levinson, who has been Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will become its lead independent director on September 1, 2026.
The Carefully Orchestrated Farewell
Apple held a farewell dinner for Cook at Apple Park last week featuring hours of tributes from Ternus, Laurene Powell Jobs, and other current and former Apple executives. The band OneRepublic, one of Cook’s favorite groups, performed at the event. Cook’s executive assistant will remain in place and work for Ternus. This suggests continuity as the foundation of this transition.
What Ternus Inherits
Ternus takes over just eight days before Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event on September 9, where the company is expected to unveil the foldable iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro, new Apple Watch models, and more.
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and became senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2021. He has also rehired former hardware engineering vice president Laura Legros to help oversee product development and cross-team coordination.
Apple’s board unanimously approved the transition after a long-term succession planning process. The Information reports that Apple expects continuity, although Ternus’ more decisive leadership style could mark a shift from Cook’s consensus-driven approach as the company enters a major product cycle.
