As Apple Inc. accelerates internal discussions around leadership succession, hardware engineering chief John Ternus has emerged as the leading candidate to eventually succeed Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, according to a report from The New York Times.
The report said the shift comes as Tim Cook, 65, has signalled to senior leaders that he wants to reduce his workload after more than a decade at the helm of one of the world’s most valuable companies.
People familiar with the discussions told the New York Times that if Cook steps down as chief executive, he would likely transition into the role of chairman of the board, a move that would preserve continuity at the top of the company.
Ternus moves to the front of the pack
According to the report, which cited four people close to the company, Ternus, 50, has moved ahead of other internal candidates.
His rise reflects what appears to be a preference within Apple’s board for continuity rather than a dramatic strategic reset.
Those familiar with the process described Ternus as having a management style similar to Cook’s: measured, collaborative, and deeply attuned to Apple’s complex global supply chain.
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.
Over the years, he has built a reputation for financial discipline and incremental innovation, qualities that align closely with Apple’s approach under Cook.
One example cited in the report dates back to around 2018, when Apple debated adding a $40 laser component to the iPhone to enhance augmented reality features.
According to two people familiar with the discussions, Ternus argued that the costly component should be limited to higher-end “Pro” models.
He reasoned that Apple’s most loyal users would value the feature, while mainstream consumers would not, and that rolling it out broadly would unnecessarily pressure margins.
Expanding responsibilities and product leadership
By 2013, Ternus’s remit had expanded to include oversight of the Mac and iPad teams.
In recent years, he has taken on an even more prominent role in shaping Apple’s product roadmap.
He was a key leader in Apple’s 2020 transition away from Intel processors in Macs to the company’s own silicon, a shift that has been widely viewed as one of Apple’s most successful engineering moves in the past decade.
Ternus also spearheaded the development of the iPhone Air, released last year with a slimmer design, and has been involved in Apple’s experimentation with foldable devices, according to one person close to the company cited by the New York Times.
A deep bench of internal candidates
While Ternus is currently viewed as the front-runner, he is not the only executive under consideration.
Apple’s internal bench includes several long-serving leaders, among them Craig Federighi, head of software; Eddy Cue, head of services; Greg Joswiak, head of worldwide marketing; and Deirdre O’Brien, who oversees retail and human resources.
The central question facing Apple’s board is whether the company needs a bold innovator or another operationally focused manager.
While Apple has not replicated the transformative success of the iPhone and iPad in recent years, it has continued to deliver steady product updates and remains one of the most profitable companies in the world.
AI strategy and external pressures
Succession planning comes as Apple confronts several strategic challenges.
The company must navigate President Donald Trump’s shifting tariff policies and its continued dependence on manufacturing in China.
At the same time, Apple’s approach to artificial intelligence remains under scrutiny.
While rivals have spent tens of billions of dollars developing AI capabilities, Apple has largely stayed on the sidelines and delayed major AI-driven changes to its products.
The prospect of a Ternus-led Apple may therefore raise questions among some investors about whether the company’s long-term AI strategy will become more assertive.
Apple shares were down about 1% in afternoon trading on Thursday following the report.
While leadership clarity is often viewed positively by investors, the market reaction suggested some unease about how Apple will balance continuity with the need to address emerging technological shifts.
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