Meet the man tipped to replace Apple CEO Tim Cook: John Ternus is the ‘respected’ and ‘mild-mannered’ senior VP who oversaw the iPhone, iPad and AirPods – so is Cook stepping down any time soon?

May 22 , 2024

Tipped for the top: Apple’s John Ternus speaks during the 2017 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference in California. Photo: Getty Images

Tim Cook, 63, took over the reins from Apple boss Steve Jobs in 2011, and since then, has been widely credited with transforming the business.

Not only did he introduce new product categories like the Apple Watch, but he’s leading the charge in mixed reality, according to Bloomberg, which blurs the lines between augmented reality and the real world. In doing so, Cook has cemented his status as a titan of the tech world, but has raised another question – who will replace him?

While he’s openly said he’s not planning on going any time soon, per Fortune, Cook has admitted that there’s a succession plan. According to Bloomberg, one man has emerged as the front runner – 49-year-old John Ternus. Here’s what we know so far about the man who could shepherd Apple into its next chapter …

What does Ternus do at Apple?

John Ternus introducing the M2 microprocessor at Apple’s WWDC 2022 developer conference at the company’s headquarters in California. Photo: Handout

Per the Apple website, Ternus is the senior vice-president of hardware engineering, reporting directly to Cook. According to the profile, he leads the teams behind the iPhone, iPad, Mac and AirPods.

Ternus initially started off in the product design team back in 2001, and in 2013 was made vice-president of hardware engineering. Apple said it was Ternus who oversaw all of the hardware engineering on “every generation and model of iPad, the latest iPhone line-up, and AirPods”.

What is Ternus’ reputation?

According to Bloomberg, Ternus is “well liked inside Apple” and has earned the respect of Cook and other leaders because he is “very mild-mannered, never puts anything into an email that is controversial and is a very reticent decision-maker”. Bloomberg quoted former Apple hardware designer Christopher Stringer as saying that Ternus was someone who has “never failed with any role he’s been elevated to”.

Does he have the confidence of the Apple board?

Apple has made its confidence in Ternus clear, publicly tying his name to the launches of new products such as the iPad Pro and iPad Air. He was also permitted to give a rare interview to CNBC alongside his colleague Johny Srouji on chips, AI and innovation on behalf of the company earlier this year.

Can he get the job done?

Bloomberg – whose report on who Cook’s successor might be was based on interviews with several people familiar with Apple’s inner workings – reported that Ternus is known to skip the red tape and work directly with engineers on projects. As a result, the article suggests, he certainly has the support of his colleagues.

What has Tim Cook said about leaving Apple?

Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives for a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, Indonesia, last month. Photo: AP Photo

In an interview with Dua Lipa on her podcast At Your Service, Cook acknowledged that there was a succession plan in play. “I can step off the wrong curb tomorrow,” he told the pop star. “My job is to prepare several people for the ability to succeed, and I really want the person to come from within Apple.”

While Cook did not say when he was planning to step down, he did insinuate that his departure would still take “a while”.

What did John Ternus do before joining Apple?

Before joining Apple in 2001, Ternus was a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Inc., according to his LinkedIn, and earned his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

What else do we know about John Ternus?

While not much is known about John Ternus’ life outside Apple, a 1994 report in The Daily Pennsylvanian does hint at one additional talent: his prowess in the pool. The publication reported that Ternus won the 50-metre freestyle and 200-metre individual medley in a university swimming competition.

Ternus was part of The University of Pennsylvania’s swim team in 1994 and was an all-time letter winner, meaning he represented his varsity in the sport a record number of times.

Fame and celebrity

Apple CEO Tim Cook told Dua Lipa on her podcast it would still be ‘a while’ before he steps down, but admits he has begun succession planning; now John Ternus is emerging as a front runner
Ternus has been with Apple since 2001 and oversaw the engineering of the iPhone, iPad and AirPods – he also seems to have hidden talents as a swimmer