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Apple's CEO Succession Plan Heats Up as Tim Cook Prepares to Step Down
15 Nov
Summary
- Tim Cook may leave Apple as soon as next year
- Apple's board and senior execs ramping up to find Cook's replacement
- John Ternus, Apple's SVP of Engineering, likely to take over as CEO
As of November 15, 2025, reports indicate that Apple's CEO Tim Cook may be ready to leave his position as soon as next year. The company's board and senior executives have been ramping up their preparations to secure Cook's replacement.
Cook has been at the helm of Apple for more than 14 years, having succeeded the late Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple has grown to a market cap of over $4 trillion, introducing hardware like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro, as well as services such as Apple Arcade and Apple TV+.
According to the Financial Times' sources, Apple's senior vice president of engineering, John Ternus, is most likely to take on the CEO role, though this decision has not been finalized yet. Ternus has been with Apple since 2001, playing a key role in the company's transition to Apple silicon.
Apple is not planning to announce the new CEO before its January 2026 earnings report, but the announcement is expected to come earlier in the year to allow for a smooth leadership transition in time for the company's annual events.
