John Ternus, Apple's top hardware engineer, will become the company's CEO effective September 1 as Tim Cook steps back. Ternus will lead the $4 trillion iPhone maker.
The 50-year-old mechanical engineer currently serves as vice-president of hardware engineering and has overseen the product design of much of the company's tech, from AirPods to the Macbook Neo. Ternus controls products generating roughly 80% of Apple's revenue and was instrumental in overseeing the Apple Silicon transition, lobbying for the creation of iPadOS, and reversing a period of declining product quality.
Known for a leadership style that prioritizes systemic problem-solving over blame, Ternus inherits a company with a significant gap in its AI position. While Tim Cook had a highly successful tenure, Apple has struggled on the AI front in recent years. It remains to be seen if Ternus will lead the company to chase rivals for the smartest intelligence or deliver the best personal AI experience.