Apple may be gearing up for its biggest leadership change in more than a decade, as a new report from the Financial Times claims Tim Cook could leave his role as chief executive as soon as next year. Sources told the publication that Apple’s board and senior executives have begun accelerating their succession plans to ensure a smooth handover once Cook steps aside.
The report aligns with Bloomberg’s earlier coverage, which also noted that Cook may be preparing to exit the role. As with that earlier report, the Financial Times says Apple’s senior vice-president of engineering, John Ternus, is currently the leading candidate to replace him, though the decision has yet to be finalised.
Cook has led Apple for more than 14 years, taking over from Steve Jobs in 2011. His tenure has seen the company introduce major product lines such as the Apple Watch, AirPods and the Vision Pro, alongside a growing portfolio of services including Apple Arcade and Apple TV+. Ternus, meanwhile, joined Apple in 2001 as part of its Product Design team and later rose through the Hardware Engineering division, where he played a significant role in Apple’s transition to its in-house Apple silicon chips across Macs and iPads.
According to the Financial Times, Apple does not plan to announce Cook’s successor before its January earnings call. However, the company is expected to confirm the leadership change early in the year, giving the incoming chief executive time to transition into the role ahead of Apple’s usual product cycle and annual events.
(Source: Financial Times)
