CUPERTINO : John Ternus has taken over as Apple’s chief executive, ending Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure at the helm of the technology giant and ushering in a new era for one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Ternus, 51, officially assumes the role on Tuesday, September 1, inheriting a company that remains a global powerhouse in smartphones and consumer technology but faces growing pressure to catch rivals in artificial intelligence and navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

The transition marks a significant shift in leadership style. Cook, an operations specialist who transformed Apple’s global supply chain and dramatically expanded the company during his tenure, is being succeeded by an engineer who has spent much of his career building the hardware at the heart of Apple’s success.

Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and rose through the ranks to become senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. He has overseen engineering across Apple’s product portfolio, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods and other devices. Before joining Apple, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at Virtual Research Systems.

Apple is scheduled to hold its annual iPhone event on September 9, just eight days after Ternus takes charge. The company is expected to introduce its latest iPhone lineup and could unveil its long-awaited first foldable iPhone, potentially one of Apple’s biggest hardware redesigns in years.

Ternus inherits a company under mounting pressure to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence, where competitors including Google, Microsoft and other technology giants have moved aggressively. His appointment places a hardware veteran in charge at a moment when AI is increasingly shaping the future of smartphones and personal computing.

The company operates one of the most sophisticated manufacturing networks in the world, built over decades under Cook and heavily centred on Chinese suppliers and assembly operations. Apple has increasingly diversified production, expanding iPhone manufacturing in India and shifting some other production to Vietnam, but China remains central to both its supply chain and its consumer business.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed Apple to manufacture iPhones in the United States and has threatened tariffs on devices produced overseas. Cook managed those tensions through direct engagement with the White House while simultaneously maintaining Apple’s crucial relationships in Beijing.

Inside Apple, Ternus has been credited with pushing engineers to make products more durable, reliable and resilient while also working to reduce their environmental footprint.

Questions, however, remain over how the longtime engineer will adapt to the broader political, commercial and diplomatic demands that come with running Apple.

Cook will remain closely involved with the company, taking over as executive chairman of Apple’s board, a move that could provide Ternus with continuity as he transitions into the chief executive role.

Ternus now takes charge of a company valued in the trillions of dollars, with more than 2.5 billion active devices worldwide and one of the most influential technology ecosystems ever built.

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