Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent employees a farewell letter on his last day in the role, thanking Apple’s staff and welcoming John Ternus as the company’s next chief executive.
Cook is not leaving Apple. He is moving into the executive chairman role, while Ternus takes over as CEO on September 1, according to Apple’s announcement. Cook became CEO in 2011 after previously serving as Apple’s chief operating officer.
Apple CEO Tim Cook’s full last-day memo
In the letter, Cook credited Apple’s employees for the company’s success and said he would miss leading the team. He also praised Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, as the right person to lead the company into its next chapter.
Team,
Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.
There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.
As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.
I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honour it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.
I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.
With all I have and all I am, I am always
Yours,
Tim
John Ternus takes over as Apple CEO
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and became senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2021. Apple’s announcement says he has overseen work across the iPad, AirPods, Mac, iPhone and Apple Watch lines. He will also join Apple’s board when the transition takes effect.
Cook’s tenure included the launch of Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro, as well as Apple’s move to its own silicon for Macs. NDTV Profit’s report also carries the earlier employee memo announcing the transition and Ternus’s appointment.
The leadership change leaves Cook at Apple, but removes him from the daily CEO job he has held for almost 15 years. Ternus now inherits the world’s most valuable technology company and a product roadmap that Cook says is “truly extraordinary”.
Is Tim Cook leaving Apple?
No. Tim Cook will become Apple’s executive chairman and continue working with the company.
When does John Ternus become Apple CEO?
John Ternus becomes Apple’s chief executive officer on September 1, 2026.
How long was Tim Cook Apple CEO?
Tim Cook became Apple CEO in 2011 and held the role until September 2026, when John Ternus succeeds him.
