- As Tim Cook is set to turn 64, there are speculations about who could likely replace him as Apple's next CEO.
- The long-time loyalist John Ternus holds a great track record and seems to be Tim Cook's most probable successor.
- John Ternus is the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple and reports directly to Tim Cook.
Back in 2011, Tim Cook picked up the mantle of Steve Jobs and brilliantly transformed Apple to build it into a multi-trillion dollar company. He has served far longer than the average Fortune 500 CEO, and also he’s older than many of his peers. As Tim Cook is set to turn 64, which nears the traditional retirement age, there are speculations about who could likely replace him as Apple’s next CEO. According to Bloomberg’s recent report, one name that stands out is the long-time loyalist John Ternus. He holds a great track record and seems to be Tim Cook’s most probable successor and the next Apple CEO.
Now, you must be curious to know who is John Ternus, why is he being favored, and who all are the other possible candidates at Apple. Unarguably, it isn’t easy to take over the responsibilities of one of the most influential companies in the world. Let’s move along and learn about the man who could step in as the next Apple CEO.
Who is John Ternus?
According to Apple’s official website, John Ternus is the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple and reports directly to Tim Cook. He leads all the hardware engineering efforts, including the teams behind iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Mac, and other products.
John has been serving Apple for more than 23 years now. He joined Apple’s Product Design Team in 2001 and held the responsibilities as the vice president of Hardware Engineering since 2013. Throughout his tenure, John has supervised the hardware engineering work on some of the most groundbreaking products, such as all generations and models of iPad, the latest iPhone series, and AirPods. In addition, John has been a key player in leading the transition of the Mac to Apple Silicon.
Before joining Apple, John was a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. Talking about academics, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Who Are the Other Candidates for Apple’s CEO Position?
Many people assumed Jeff Williams would be Tim Cook’s successor. However, he was dismissed as the next CEO due to his age, he’s 61 years old. If we were discussing this five years ago, Jeff would surely be leading the pack. For those unaware, Jeff Williams is Apple’s Chief Operations Officer and oversees Apple’s entire worldwide operations. He also leads Apple’s design team and all sorts of engineering efforts for Apple Watch. Bloomberg’s report says that any immediate change could see Williams take the reigns. Apple’s board of directors would favor an executive who’s ready to take the leadership for at least a decade, just like Steve Jobs and Tim Cook’s tenures.
According to the reports, the other potential candidates include Craig Federighi (Senior Vice President of Software Engineering), Dan Riccio (Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering), Deirdre O’Brien (Senior Vice President of Retail), and Phil Schiller (Apple Fellow). However, they are less likely to be a choice for such a top position.
Why John Ternus Could Be the next Apple CEO?
John Ternus holds an impressive track record. He’s not even 50 years old, and he has quickly made his way through the ranks to become an important face of Apple. Besides work, John is known for his collaborative approach, decision-making abilities, and motivating the culture of innovation within the team.
John earned several supporters as well. He’s known for being a very reticent decision-maker and holds expertise in diverse domains. Besides, John has a lot of managerial and leadership qualities like Tim Cook. Throughout his tenure, John has earned the respect and trust of Apple’s top leaders, including Tim Cook and Jeff Williams.
Despite several acknowledgments, John isn’t without any critics. Some people within Apple have doubts that he is ready for the CEO role. After all, John currently holds a relatively junior position compared to other executives. Some also question his limited involvement in high-profile and demanding projects like the now-cancelled Apple Car initiative and the Apple Vision Pro.
Well, these doubts are still dominated by the trust John Ternus has gained at Apple. According to a report, Tim Cook’s closest executive, Eddy Cue, also hinted at John filling the CEO spot next.
While John Ternus seems to frontrunner for Apple’s next CEO position, the road still remains uncertain. Tim Cook himself gave a hint about staying for at least another three years. John Ternus stands a great chance here to prove himself and address any doubts about his readiness to run a company with a rich legacy of innovation.
It would be damn interesting to see who’s gonna shape Apple’s next chapter. While John Ternus seems to be the name, we’ll have to wait until Apple’s board of directors arrives at a decision. Also, who knows Tim Cook himself might make an official announcement or throw some hints, at least.
Sagnik Das Gupta
