The media is abuzz with reports that Tim Cook is set to step down as CEO of Apple, and all indications are that John Ternus is the designated successor. The latter currently serves as the company’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, Fortune reports.
Speculation about Cook’s departure gained ground after Apple’s chief operating officer Jeff Williams, who was seen as the “natural” successor to Cook, decided to leave at the end of the year. He has already relinquished operational duties.
Who is John Ternus?
According to his LinkedIn profile, Ternus graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He was also a keen swimmer while at this college, winning the 50m and the 200m individual medley at the university competition.
He started working at Apple in 2001. Since then, he has been part of the product design team of this technological giant.
According to Fortune, he has been part of the group overseeing the production of every major Apple product over the years. Apple’s public relations team has focused its attention on him in recent months, engaging in areas beyond his current job duties.
Ternus is 50, the same age Cook was when he took over, meaning he can stay on for at least a decade, which the board approves, Fortune writes.
Also read: Is Tim Cook preparing to leave Apple? Here’s how much in supplies and cash he could take with him
Challenges before John Ternus
One of the Apple boss’ biggest responsibilities is speaking in front of a live audience while millions watch at home during product launches. Here, Ternus has the advantage of making regular public appearances, as reported by Yahoo Finance.
Yahoo also reports that in 2023, Cook said he has “very detailed succession plans” in mind. “My job is to prepare a few people to be able to succeed, and I really want that person to come from Apple,” the company’s current CEO, Dua Lipa, said in an interview that year.
The stage is now set for a major transition in the technology world. John Ternus will now become the face of Apple. Only time will tell if he is up to the challenge.
Frequently asked questions
Who is John Ternus?
Ternus is rumored to be the designated successor to Tim Cook as Apple’s CEO.
