Heavy official announcement: Cook steps down, John Turnus officially takes over as Apple CEO

April 21, 2011 - Global tech giantsAppleA bombshell was dropped today: the company announced a historic succession plan for top management. Current CEO Tim Cook will become Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, while John Ternus, currently Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will take the reins and officially become Apple's next CEO as of September 1, 2026.

This decision was no accident, but the result of thorough, long-term succession planning by Apple's Board of Directors. This transition marks the end of one era and the beginning of another full of possibilities.

Smooth transition: Cook's “last mile” and new role

According to Apple's official release, Cook will continue to fulfill his duties as CEO throughout the summer. During that time, he will work closely with Turnus to ensure a “seamless transition” of the company's operations before the Sept. 1 official date.

As the new executive chairman, Cook will not be completely retired, and will continue to assist with company-specific matters, in particular utilizing his deep international reputation to take responsibility for communicating and interacting with global policymakers and regulators.

In a statement, Cook reflected fondly on his tenure: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all my heart and am grateful to work with such an innovative and caring team. They are dedicated to enriching the lives of our customers.”

Cook spoke highly of his successor. He called Turnus “an engineer's mind, an innovator's soul, and a leader's core of integrity,” and was convinced that Turnus was “the best person” to lead Apple into the future.

The Cook Era: The $4 Trillion Market Capitalization Saga

Looking back at the 15 years since Cook took over from Steve Jobs in 2011, he's delivered a record that's been marveled at by Wall Street and users around the world.

With Cook at the helm, Apple has made the leap from a preeminent computer company to a global ecological juggernaut. The numbers prove it: Apple's market capitalization has skyrocketed from $350 billion in 2011 to $4 trillion today, with a growth rate of more than $10,00%. Annual revenues have climbed from $108 billion to $416 billion by fiscal year 2025.

But Cook's contributions go far beyond financial numbers. He's pioneered new product categories like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and the latest Apple Vision Pro, and built the Services business into a standalone engine of more than $100 billion. What's more, he's defended privacy rights globally and pushed Apple's supply chain and operations to unprecedented environmental heights - cutting our carbon footprint by more than 60% while nearly doubling our revenue.

John Turnus: From Product Design to CEO

John Turnus, who will succeed Cook, is typical of the brilliant minds that have been nurtured within the Apple system. He joined Apple's product design team in 2001, and his 25-year career has nearly coincided with Apple's renaissance and peak.

Turnus' previous work in hardware engineering is well documented. From the creation of the iPad and AirPods to multiple generations of the iPhone and Apple Watch, Turnus has been at the center of technological innovation. Notably, he led the Mac's transition to Apple Silicon, an epochal feat that completely reshaped the Mac's competitiveness. Among the most recent achievements, the redefined iPhone 17 series, the ultra-slim iPhone Air, and the innovative MacBook Neo are the latest testaments to Turnus' leadership.

“I've spent nearly my entire career at Apple,” Turnus said in a statement, “I've had the honor of working under Steve Jobs and consider Tim Cook my mentor. It is with humility that I take on this role, promising to lead the company with the values that have defined this special place.”

Board of Directors and Management

The personnel change also involves a change at board level. Arthur Levinson, who has served as non-executive chairman for 15 years, will move to lead independent director. Levinson expressed heartfelt respect for Cook and confidence in Turnus.

Levinson noted, “John's love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and insistence on great products will help take Apple to an extraordinary future.”

With the addition of Turnus to the Board of Directors and his appointment as CEO on September 1, Apple's top decision makers have completed the transition from old to new. This is not just a turnover of personnel, but a continued fusion of technology-driven and business excellence.

Apple's Next Chapter

While the market tends to be wary of management changes, Apple's extremely transparent and up-front announcement is designed to send a clear signal to investors and customers around the world that the company's core values and strategic priorities will not change.

Privacy protection, carbon-neutral targets, the advantages of self-developed chips and the ultimate pursuit of user experience will remain the core cornerstones of the Turnus era. Standing on the shoulders of Cook, a giant, Turnus is facing an emerging empire with 2.5 billion active devices in over 200 countries and regions.

As September 1, 2026 approaches, the global tech community will be waiting with bated breath. Under Turnus' leadership, will Apple be able to create another revolutionary moment like the birth of the iPhone? The answer may take a while to find out.

Source: Netease Digital