Apple CEO Tim Cook could step down next year

According to a media report, Apple is apparently preparing for a change at its top. Tim Cook is said to be stepping down as CEO of the tech giant next year after more than 14 years. Apple's hardware chief John Ternus is apparently being considered as a potential successor.

The Financial Times (FT) is said to have learned this from informed circles. According to the report, there are intensive discussions between Apple's board of directors and top executives. Even if a leadership change is apparently on the cards for 2026, this date could still change at any time. According to FT information, Cook's possible departure is not related to Apple's current business success. The company increased its revenue by 8 percent to 102.5 billion US dollars. According to Tim Cook, it was Apple's most successful September quarter ever. For the upcoming holiday quarter, Apple expects record revenue due to iPhone 17 demand, and Cook also expects a record quarter here.

Apple has not yet commented on a possible change in the CEO position. The 65-year-old Cook has been at the helm since 2011, taking over directly from founder Steve Jobs. That Ternus could succeed Cook, there have been speculations about this for a long time. The 50-year-old has been with Apple since 2001, is popular internally and externally, and is comparatively young, which would allow him a long tenure as CEO. As Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, he currently reports directly to Cook and is responsible for virtually every Apple product. As a technologist, he would have the qualifications to position the company for the future.

The FT does not expect Apple to officially announce a change at its top until the company's next quarterly report in early January. This timing would give the company enough time for preparations before important events such as the Apple Keynote, the newspaper suspects.

(nen)