Tim Cook Says Apple CEO Transition to John Ternus Was Planned Years Ago

Apple executive chairman Tim Cook has revealed that his transition from CEO to John Ternus began years before the leadership change took effect on September 1. Cook said Apple carefully planned the handover to give Ternus a strong start, including the upcoming launch of the company’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo.

In an interview with The Independent at Apple’s Battersea headquarters in London, Cook described his first month as executive chairman and explained why he stepped aside before one of Apple’s biggest product launches.

Cook said the transition had gone exactly as he envisioned, adding that Apple deserved the best possible leadership change.

Cook Says He Won’t Interfere With John Ternus as Apple CEO

Cook explained that he deliberately left the iPhone Duo launch to Ternus, allowing the new CEO to begin his tenure with a major product announcement.

“I wanted John to have some wind at his back,” Cook said, explaining that Apple’s momentum depends heavily on its product cycle.

Cook also addressed concerns about whether his continued presence at Apple would affect Ternus’s leadership, emphasizing their mutual trust and clearly defined responsibilities.

First of all, John and I have an incredible level of trust in each other. The relationship must be based on trust, and the communication must be frequent and significant. But other than that, what I’m focused on right now is worldwide policy. And the interface with governments around the world matters because there are lots of things where we’re trying to advance or advocate for change. There’s a significant amount of work in that, and I’m doing that and helping John in any way he sees fit. I’m not meddling. I’m not a meddler.

Cook also shared the advice he gave Ternus, encouraging him to develop his own leadership style rather than follow his predecessor.

“Don’t mimic me,” Cook told Ternus, recalling similar advice Steve Jobs gave him when he became Apple’s CEO.