After 14 years, Apple is preparing a change in command and a new successor for Tim Cook; see who it is

A has started a new stage of the process that will define who will take over Tim Cook’s role next year, according to a report from Financial Times. People who follow discussions within the company told the British newspaper that the board and senior executives have intensified preparations for the transition, expected to take place after more than 14 years of Cook at the helm.

John Ternus, current senior vice president of hardware engineering, would be the most popular name to take on the role, although no decision has been made. There is no defined deadline for official communication, adds the report.

The movement would not be related to the company’s recent performance. Those involved stated that the succession has been planned for years and precedes the iPhone sales cycle expected at the end of the year. When asked about the matter, Apple did not comment.

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The expectation is that any announcement will only occur after the release of the next financial report, scheduled for the end of January. A positioning in early 2026 would give the future CEO time to prepare before the annual developer conference, scheduled for June, and the launch of the new generation of iPhone, in September.

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From billions to trillions

Cook, who turned 65 this month, took over leadership of the company in 2011, shortly before Steve Jobs’ death. Since then, the company’s market value has jumped from around 350 billion dollars to approximately .

In the last month, shares have returned, although performance for the year, close to 12%, is still below competitors such as Alphabet, Nvidia and Microsoft, driven by the advancement of artificial intelligence.

The year was marked by important changes at the top of the company. Luca Maestri, financial director and one of the names close to Cook, left his position at the beginning of 2025, and Jeff Williams announced his departure from the operations director in July.

If confirmed, Ternus would replace a hardware executive at the top of the company’s structure at a time when Apple faces challenges in opening new product fronts and keeping up with competition in artificial intelligence. Cook has already stated in interviews that he prefers a successor who comes from the company’s own ranks and that the company maintains “well-established succession plans”.