Apple has chosen John Ternus, its head of product design and engineering, to succeed Tim Cook as CEO, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The move signals Apple's intent to double down on product innovation as it navigates the post-iPhone era and the rise of artificial intelligence.
Ternus, who has overseen the development of key products including the Mac transition to Apple Silicon and the Vision Pro headset, will take the helm as the company shifts focus toward AI-powered features and services. Gurman noted that Cook's tenure was defined by operational excellence and record profits, but Ternus is expected to bring a sharper product vision.
"Apple is betting on a product visionary to lead its next chapter," Gurman said during an interview. The transition comes as Apple faces increasing competition in AI from Microsoft, Google, and emerging startups, making hardware-software integration more critical than ever.
While Cook transformed Apple into a services powerhouse and supply chain titan, critics argue the company has lacked breakthrough hardware since the Apple Watch. Ternus, known for his hands-on engineering approach and product instincts, is seen as the leader who can restore Apple's innovation edge.
The announcement, which had been rumored for months, was made official Thursday. Apple declined to comment further on the leadership change.