John Ternus Takes Apple's Helm: A New Era Begins
John Ternus will officially take over as Apple Chief Executive Officer (CEO) this week, on September 1, 2026, marking a significant transition for the tech giant. Tim Cook, after 15 years leading Apple through immense growth and innovation, will move into the Executive Chairman role. Ternus inherits a powerful organization, but his initial years are expected to be defined by a substantial reshaping of its senior leadership.
Reshaping a Decades-Old Team
The most immediate and significant challenge for Ternus will be to reshape Apple's senior executive team across critical business areas: hardware, marketing, retail, and human resources. This transition, anticipated to unfold over the next three years, will involve deciding which long-serving members of Cook's leadership team will remain and who will be replaced, according to a Bloomberg report. Beyond executive-level changes, Ternus may also realign reporting structures, granting more authority and responsibility to trusted senior executives.
Anticipated Departures and Replacements
Several key executives are expected to depart Apple within the next few years:
- Deirdre O’Brien: Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail and People, with nearly 40 years at the company, is likely to leave. Vanessa Trigub, VP of retail store operations, is a potential successor for the retail arm. Apple may also separate retail and HR again, possibly promoting an internal candidate like Cynthia Bowman for HR or hiring an external expert.
- Johny Srouji: The Chief Hardware Officer, who reportedly considered leaving last year, is also expected to depart. His exit could lead to a split in the hardware organization, separating engineering from the chip businesses.
- Greg Joswiak: Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, also with over four decades at the company, is anticipated to retire or leave. Bob Borchers, overseeing product marketing for key devices like iPhone and Vision Pro, is a likely replacement.
- Luca Maestri: The former CFO, 62, is also projected to leave the company.
Expanding Roles and Organizational Shifts
While some executives prepare to depart, others are expected to see their influence grow under Ternus's leadership. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman highlighted that Eddy Cue (Services), Kevan Parekh (Finance), and Sabih Khan (Operations) are poised for greater roles. Parekh, in particular, could emerge as a crucial long-term lieutenant for Ternus, mirroring Luca Maestri's relationship with Tim Cook.
Sabih Khan’s responsibilities as COO may expand beyond the supply chain, with his second-in-command, Priya Balasubramaniam (VP of Product Operations), potentially rising to Senior Vice President of Operations. Furthermore, Apple is expected to divide its Services division into distinct units, such as Entertainment, iCloud, and other underlying service operations, to streamline management and foster specialized growth.
The Road Ahead for Apple's New CEO
As John Ternus steps into one of the most demanding roles in global business, his ability to strategically reshape Apple's leadership team will be critical. His decisions on who stays, who departs, and who gains more power will set the tone for Apple's direction and innovation in the years to come, building upon the formidable foundation left by Tim Cook.