Who is John Ternus and what is his new role at Apple?

John Ternus is Apple's hardware chief, and his role has been expanded to include oversight of the company's design teams.

Is Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO?

There are no immediate signs of Tim Cook stepping down, though John Ternus' expanded role positions him as a potential successor.

What is the significance of design at Apple?

Design has always been critical to Apple's success, closely linked to how its products look and feel since the Steve Jobs era.

Home / Technology / Apple Hardware Head Now Oversees Design

Apple Hardware Head Now Oversees Design

23 Jan

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Summary

John Ternus' hardware role expands to include design leadership.
The move positions Ternus as a potential successor to CEO Tim Cook.
This shift reflects Apple's focus on design's critical role in its success.

Apple Inc. has significantly broadened the responsibilities of its hardware chief, John Ternus, by assigning him oversight of the company's design teams. This expansion, enacted late last year, positions Ternus as a leading candidate to eventually succeed current CEO Tim Cook. The addition of design duties is particularly significant given Apple's historical reliance on product aesthetics for its success, a legacy cemented by Steve Jobs and Jony Ive.

Ternus is now internally recognized as the "executive sponsor" for all design initiatives within Cook's management team. While design heads continue to report directly to Cook, this new arrangement allows Cook to expose Ternus to more facets of the company's operations. This discreet adjustment aims to groom Ternus for future leadership without publicly signaling an immediate succession plan, a move that could potentially undermine Cook's current standing.