By Blessing Nweke
Apple has announced that John Ternus will become its next chief executive, replacing Tim Cook, who is stepping down after 15 years at the helm of the technology giant.
Ternus, currently head of hardware engineering and a 25-year veteran of the company, will assume the role on 1 September. Cook will remain in position through the summer to oversee a transition period before moving into the role of executive chairman.
Cook, who took over in 2011 following the resignation of co-founder Steve Jobs, described leading Apple as “the greatest privilege of my life.” During his tenure, the company became one of the most valuable in the world, surpassing a $1 trillion valuation in 2018 and now standing at roughly $4 trillion.
Praising his successor, Cook called Ternus a “visionary” leader with “the mind of an engineer” and “the heart to lead with integrity.” Ternus, who has worked on major products including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods, said Cook had been his “mentor” and expressed optimism about Apple’s future.
Industry analysts say the appointment signals a potential shift in strategy. Unlike Cook, whose background focused on operations, Ternus brings deep experience in product development. Experts suggest this could help Apple address criticism that its recent innovation has lagged behind rivals.
The company has faced pressure to diversify beyond its heavy reliance on the iPhone and accelerate its efforts in artificial intelligence, where competitors like Google and Microsoft have invested heavily.
Observers say Ternus’s leadership may push Apple toward bolder hardware innovations and deeper integration of AI, marking a new chapter for the iconic tech firm.
Original article
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