Meet John Ternus, the 51-year-old former swimming champ who will succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEO - Fortune

John Ternus, a 51-year-old Apple veteran and former competitive swimmer, has been named to succeed Tim Cook as CEO and will officially take the role on September 1, 2026. Cook has told employees he is healthy and intends to serve as executive chairman for a long time, a message meant to reassure staff as Ternus assumes day-to-day leadership. Reporting now indicates Apple plans to present the upcoming $2,000 foldable iPhone as the centerpiece of Ternus’s tenure, framing its September launch as the culmination of his career and an early test of his leadership.