John Ternus sent his first staff memo as Apple chief executive on 1 September 2026, thanking Tim Cook and telling employees there is “a huge launch next week that’s going to be phenomenal.”
Bloomberg reported the note. The Verge published the full text.
The memo lands on Ternus’s first day in the job, after the handover tbreak has already set out in full.
What John Ternus wrote to staff
Ternus opened by thanking staff for the “warm wishes”, then turned to Cook, who became executive chairman the same day.
I also want to extend my deep appreciation to Tim for sharing so much of his knowledge and experience during this transition, and more importantly, for everything he contributed to Apple over the years. We’re so lucky to have had a CEO who led with his values and with such decency and humanity. We are all better for it and I’m so grateful he’ll be our executive chairman.
The launch line follows immediately.
I’m honored to be stepping into this role at what is truly the greatest company in the world, and I am so excited about everything we have in store. We have a huge launch next week that’s going to be phenomenal. Thanks for everything you’ve all done to make it possible.
He then pointed past next week, writing that he is “just as excited about what lies beyond that, including the incredible products already in the works and the ones we haven’t even imagined yet that we’ll dream up and create together.”
MacRumors independently obtained the same memo and published it in full.
The huge launch is Apple’s 9 September event
The Verge reads the line as a reference to Apple’s 9 September event. Apple’s events page lists a special event under the tagline “Surprise and shine” on 9/9 at 10 a.m. PT, streamed on apple.com or the Apple TV app.
Apple Developer News, dated 26 August 2026, confirms the same date and time: “Join us for a special Apple Event on September 9 at 10 a.m. PT.”
tbreak’s briefing on the 9 September event covers what is expected on stage. That is separate from what the memo itself says.
What the memo does not name
The Verge write-up says Apple is expected to unveil new iPhones at the event, “including the rumored foldable iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro models.” Those product names are not in Ternus’s memo.
Bloomberg’s headline frames 9 September as an iPhone launch. The memo text published with that reporting still does not name a product.
Cook’s last-day staff memo went out on 31 August.
Apple’s April 2026 succession announcement remains the company’s public record of the handover.
The next confirmed public date is Wednesday 9 September 2026. Apple streams Surprise and shine at 10am PT.
