Daijiworld Media Network - California
California, Apr 22: Sundar Pichai has praised outgoing Tim Cook after the latter announced he will step down as CEO of Apple from September 1, 2026.
Announcing his exit, Cook expressed gratitude to stakeholders and welcomed his successor. “I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and thank you for believing in me to lead the company that has always put you at the center of our work. This is not goodbye. It’s a hello to John and I can’t wait for you to get to know him like I do,” he said.
Responding to the announcement, Pichai congratulated Cook on an “incredible run” and praised his dedication to Apple’s mission.
“Congrats on an incredible run @tim_cook, always respected your deep commitment to Apple’s mission and best wishes in your new role!” Pichai wrote, adding that he looks forward to working with the new leadership.
Apple has named John Ternus, its senior vice president of hardware engineering, as the new CEO.
In a statement, the company said Ternus, 51, has been with Apple for 25 years, having joined its product design team in 2001. He became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and was elevated to the executive team in 2021.
During his tenure, Ternus has overseen hardware engineering across major product lines, playing a key role in the development of products such as iPad and AirPods, as well as multiple generations of iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch.
Apple also highlighted Cook’s 15-year tenure as CEO, noting that under his leadership the company’s market capitalisation grew from about $350 billion to $4 trillion. Annual revenue rose from $108 billion in 2011 to over $416 billion in fiscal 2025.
The company added that it expanded its global footprint to more than 500 retail stores, doubled the number of countries with Apple Store presence, and increased its workforce by over 100,000 employees, with an active installed base exceeding 2.5 billion devices.
With the leadership transition set for September, industry observers will be watching closely as Ternus takes charge of one of the world’s most valuable technology companies.