Tim Cook, the Alabama native who has served as CEO of Apple since 2011, is stepping down from the job effective Sept. 1.
Cook, who will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors, will be replaced as CEO by John Ternus, now senior vice president of hardware engineering.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a news release. “I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”
Cook praised his successor.
“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” Cook said. “He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.”
Cook, who was born in Mobile and grew up in Robertsdale, is a graduate of Auburn University. He joined Apple in 1998.
Ternus said he is “profoundly grateful” to be succeeding Cook.
“Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor,” Ternus said. “It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another.”
