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Apple CEO Tim Cook's Exit Looms: What's Next?
23 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Tim Cook's tenure saw Apple's sales soar to $416bn.
- Walmart and Berkshire Hathaway also face CEO transitions.
- Successors of long-serving CEOs often underperform.
Tim Cook's remarkable 14-year tenure at Apple has seen unprecedented financial growth, with sales escalating to $416bn. This success, however, presents a significant challenge for the board in finding a successor.
Recent reports suggest Cook might step down as early as next year. This situation mirrors other corporate giants like Walmart and Berkshire Hathaway, which are also preparing for leadership transitions after long-serving CEOs. Such shifts often follow a pattern where successors find it difficult to replicate their predecessors' achievements.
Data reveals that companies led by "marathoner CEOs" (serving a decade or more) tend to be more successful. Yet, their successors frequently underperform, with many internal hires generating lower returns than their predecessors, underscoring the complex nature of executive succession planning.
