Tim Cook's Departure: Report of rapid Apple CEO change premature?
Apple is looking for a new CEO in the long term. However, a change of Tim Cook between January and June 2026 is not planned, according to a report.
Tim Cook: Just turned 65.
(Image: Apple)
The news had caused a stir on the stock market and in the IT scene: in mid-November, it was reported that Tim Cook could leave Apple's top management as early as spring and summer 2026. Meanwhile, it was said that informed individuals had likely wanted to test the waters to see how the markets would react. But according to a Bloomberg report, the brief report, which the Financial Times had commissioned from no fewer than four editors, was possibly premature or even “simply wrong.”
Succession planning and candidate Ternus correct, timeline not?
Cook had turned 65 on November 1st—a typical retirement age in the USA as well. Furthermore, he will have been at the helm of the iPhone manufacturer for a total of 15 years next year. According to the Financial Times, Apple wants to wait for the Christmas quarter and then decide when announcing the quarterly figures in January. There is then said to be a transition period of six months. For a long time, Head of Hardware Engineering John Ternus has been considered the hottest candidate for Cook's succession. Cook is reportedly set to move into the position of Chairman of the Board. Therefore, a complete departure from Apple would hardly be expected.
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However, according to Bloomberg, the timeline is incorrect. While Apple is intensifying its succession search, Cook himself is said to have the right to determine the date of his departure, given his great successes. Moreover, Cook still loves his job. The fact that Apple will need a new CEO “at some point” remains unchanged, according to Bloomberg, and Ternus is also considered a hot candidate due to his popularity and comparatively young age (50). However, it was said that a conclusion should probably not be reported yet.
Departures towards OpenAI, where Jony Ive is located
Meanwhile, Apple is facing major problems in retaining employees in other areas. As Bloomberg also reports, there have been important departures not only in the AI department and in design, but OpenAI's AI hardware department is increasingly poaching former Apple hardware personnel. This includes engineers as well as directors.
They allegedly come from almost all areas of iPhone and Mac hardware, chip technology, testing, software, and production. OpenAI is said to have recruited 40 people for its hardware group, which is under the leadership of former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Many of them come directly from Apple—and precisely from John Ternus's department.
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