Gurman: Tim Cook Likely to Remain Apple CEO Until at Least Mid-2026

[Sippincider]

The next CEO is going to stay the course to make sure Apple's 1+ Billion active and repeat customers stay thrilled with Apple products.

And they'll have their work waiting, as this repeat and long-term customer (back to the Apple II days) isn't thrilled with any of the current offerings esp. on the desktop.

A critical hardware failure would open my wallet, but it'd be a day of reckoning and not necessarily an automatic Apple replacement.

 

[grilledcheesesandwich]

Gurman just salty the FT upstaged him. He’ll change his tune in a couple months no doubt

 

[progx]

Yeah, Cook’s track record is insane, 18% annual market-cap growth, first $1T company, first $3T company. No question he’s one of the best operators in business history, and when he steps down the market (and MacRumors) will absolutely lose its mind. But the real question is what has Tim Cook actually done for Apple from an innovation standpoint?

Yes, he oversaw AirPods which basically created the entire true-wireless category and became a massive cultural hit. Huge win. But beyond that, where’s the next iPhone-level product? The next paradigm shift?

Financially he’s crushed it. Operationally he’s unmatched, but in terms of meaningful, era-defining innovation, what’s the big one under Cook?

Apple Watch would like a word with you.

 

[whelmedjedi]

Gurman on July 2026:

Tim Cook likely to remain ceo until at least end of 2026

 

[F23]

Introducing our new CEO, Jony Ive. Now infused with aluminium, Jony Ive has transformed himself into a bionic being. We think you're going to love it.

 

[UltimaKilo]

A new CEO is a scary prospect. Who understands Apple culture? Not many left inside the company ready to take over.

 

[TakeOFF250]

Tim Cook is actually the best CEO in the tech industry. It’s funny how people can’t understand how hard it is to keep a company like Apple on track with all the products (software and hardware) they have, and on top of that, keep bringing incredible new product categories. They could have gone allin on the metaverse like some people here seem to wish lol!

 

[scottrngr]

Maybe it's just me, or my age, or whatever; but I don't get a sense of excitement anymore when Apple announces a new product or update.

 

[navaira]

But beyond that, where’s the next iPhone-level product? The next paradigm shift?

I’d argue Apple Silicon is a massive paradigm shift.

 

[dcny]

Tim Cook is actually the best CEO in the tech industry. It’s funny how people can’t understand how hard it is to keep a company like Apple on track with all the products (software and hardware) they have, and on top of that, keep bringing incredible new product categories. They could have gone allin on the metaverse like some people here seem to wish lol!

Best CEO? LMAO. He can’t even read A and I together. He should stay in compaq instead of killing a company which used to innovate and leading the technology. He is the worst CEO in major tech.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Maybe it's just me, or my age, or whatever; but I don't get a sense of excitement anymore when Apple announces a new product or update.

A whole bunch of us don't, as the upgrades have become incredibly incremental.

 

[harvard69]

WHY..... time now for new blood

 

[citysnaps]

Tim Cook is actually the best CEO in the tech industry. It’s funny how people can’t understand how hard it is to keep a company like Apple on track with all the products (software and hardware) they have, and on top of that, keep bringing incredible new product categories. They could have gone allin on the metaverse like some people here seem to wish lol!

Apple has 164,000 employees spread across many internal departments (it's more than just hardware, software, and retail).

Many people don't understand what it takes to keep a company that large running smoothly and successfully. Cook has done a great job as evidenced by its 1+ Billion active and repeat customers. And becoming one of the most successful consumer tech companies in the world.

 

[now i see it]

Its not like the next CEO can be a maverick - he's got to answer to the Board of Directors for any big changes envisioned.
I doubt things will change much whoever the next CEO is.

 

[I7guy]

I wonder if the board had enough or this is his actual choice??? I mean I have thought for years the board should terminate his agreement and take on a product person. They need to reinvigorate innovation then capitalize again with profits. As innovation has been put to the back while profits were focused on.

People have been saying this since 2011. So if true it took the board 15 years to figure it out.

 

[Piggie]

The next CEO will be SIRI

Siri would have more personality.
Mind you it would probably be just as bad at actually clearly answering a direct question with any meaningful response.

I can't wait for him to go.

Note: I'm no fan of Steve Jobs as an actual person, would of hated to have worked for him, hated his childlike hatred towards certain things, and he made many dumb and stupid real life choices.

However, despite all of that, he was actually vastly better at creating products, with a clear vision.

Putting a money man at the top might have made Apple lots of money, but it's done nothing for great lines of new interesting products.

Basically we're still running the company on the iPhone, and squeezing more and more cash out of iPhone owners

 

[steve333]

After what he did to the MacOS he could leave right now
Tahoe is hideous

 

[Plutonius]

I doubt that he will leave before Apple finds a successor.

 

[Plutonius]

Putting a money man at the top might have made Apple lots of money, but it's done nothing for great lines of new interesting products.

The CEOs job is to earn the company a lot of money.

 

[triptolemus]

It won't make much difference. Many readers will slam the new CEO with childish taunts 24/7.

In b4 "Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave at the new CEO selection..."

 

[257Loner]

Tim Cook will probably stay on until right after the iPhone Fold debuts so that it will be considered a “Tim Cook era” product and an extra feather in his cap.

 

[octopi]

Gurman = Ignore

 

[LincolnNE]

Gurman is rolling the dice for attention.

 

[psxp]

Whenever Cook steps down as CEO, nothing will change, the roadmap is in place and the new guy will have their direction from the board and will have been guided by Cook.

For sure. MIght as well have an AI bot as CEO following the script

 

[stevet]

Personally think “FT” has better track record than Gurman, but we will see.

I mean all Gurman said was he doesn’t expect him to leave in the first 6 months, not exactly refuting the claiming FT. The announcement needs to be made in January if Cook is going to head the board. That’s when those announcements happen. If that happens that is his retirement announcement.