Tim Cook Stepping Down as Apple CEO Next Week: 15 Years in Quotes

[MacRumors]

Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO in just five more days, with the company's hardware engineering chief John Ternus set to take over.

Below, we have surfaced some of Cook's notable quotes over his 15 years leading Apple.

August 2011, in an email to Apple employees upon becoming CEO:

I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple's unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that - it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

May 2012, on Apple's secrecy:

We're going to double down on secrecy on products. I'm serious.

September 2012, in a public apology about the botched launch of Apple Maps:

At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

December 2012, when asked if it is true that he wakes up at 3:45 a.m. every morning:

Yes, every morning.

The thing about it is, when you love what you do, you don't really think of it as work. It's what you do. And that's the good fortune of where I find myself.

October 2014, in a public essay:

I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.

March 2015, the month before the Apple Watch launched:

Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it. We can't wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before.

October 2015, on privacy:

We see that privacy is a fundamental human right that people have.

June 2017, expressing his excitement about augmented reality:

I think it is profound. I am so excited about it, I just want to yell out and scream.

March 2018, on what he would do if he were Mark Zuckerberg, amid a Facebook privacy scandal:

I wouldn't be in this situation.

March 2020, in response to COVID-19:

There is no mistaking the challenge of this moment. The entire Apple family is indebted to the heroic first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, public health experts and public servants globally who have given every ounce of their spirit to help the world meet this moment.

August 2022, on Apple's legacy:

I think that when we look back one day and ask, what's been Apple's greatest contribution, it will be in health.

September 2022, in response to a customer asking why the iPhone did not support RCS, when Android smartphones already did at the time:

Buy your mom an iPhone.

June 2023, in Apple's Vision Pro announcement:

Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing. Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing. Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations.

April 2026, upon announcing he is stepping down as CEO:

It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.

And a list of Cook quotes would not be complete without:

Good moooorning!

Cook will remain at Apple as executive chairman on the company's board of directors. In this role, Apple said he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world."

Note: This discussion thread is located in our Political News forum with special rules.

Article Link: Tim Cook Stepping Down as Apple CEO Next Week: 15 Years in Quotes

 

[Astuces iOS]

Bye Bye Donald !

Timothy Donald Cook btw

 

[germanbeer007]

We forgetting about "doubling down on secrecy"?

Let's also not forget these moments.

 

[dannyyankou]

Good mornaaaanngggg!!

 

[gleepskip]

Bye Bye Donald !

Timothy Donald Cook btw

DJT is still President. Why wouldn't Ternus do what is best for Apple as well?

 

[Astuces iOS]

DJT is still President. Why wouldn't Ternus do what is best for Apple as well?

Because DJT has nothing to do in there...

 

[Joe Rossignol]

We forgetting about "doubling down on secrecy"?

Let's also not forget these moments.
View attachment 2656314
View attachment 2656313

I'm expecting a lot of comments about quotes that I forgot. Hard to remember them all off the top of my head! I quickly added in that one, that's a good one.

 

[JPack]

"We did it because we're in what I would characterize as a 100-year flood on the memory pricing, with exponential increases in memory prices."

 

[jz0309]

Thanks Tim Cook for incredible 15 years, your successor has big shoes to fill

 

[Hammerd]

Couldn’t he keep his sexuality separate from his work, please? Why did he feel the need to tell the world in an essay that he’s more eggplant than apricots. How can that even be among his greatest quotes as CEO.

 

[User 6502]

Thanks Tim Cook for incredible 15 years, your successor has big shoes to fill

He could be a stuffed toy and still be a better CEO than Tim crook.

 

[triumvirate]

As thoroughly uninspiring as Tim is, he was a good bean-counter for the shareholders and stock value. And now look at the prices Apple charges!

 

[Mackan]

So when does he go to sleep if he wakes up 3.45AM? I mean, his brain must be fried.

 

[vegetassj4]

They forgot the bet one: “most pro”

 

[goonie4life9]

You forgot the classics: "ALL NEW," "INCREDIBLE!," "AMAZING," "GAME CHANGING," "BEST-IN-CLASS," "TRULY," "CAN'T WAIT TO SEE," etc.

 

[MrMojo1]

Best wishes to Tim.
He's laughing all the way to the bank with his CEO retirement package and will serve on the Board so he'll continue to make lots of money for himself, all the while Apple increase prices on its products.

 

[JPack]

“Each product has its own journey.”

Tim Cook in reference to Vision Pro sales performance.

 

[AusMness]

Godspeed Tim, enjoy your new role and thanks for the last 15 years

 

[sw1tcher]

And a list of Cook quotes would not be complete without:

Good moooorning!

"We think you're gonna love it!" should be there too.

 

[kirbyrun]

Couldn’t he keep his sexuality separate from his work, please? Why did he feel the need to tell the world in an essay that he’s more eggplant than apricots. How can that even be among his greatest quotes as CEO

Why?

Because people like you make the world a harder place to live in for gay kids and he wanted to give them some hope.

That’s why. He actually said it in the essay.

 

[dominiongamma]

I’m ready for the Tim era to be over honestly, time for new blood to run the company with new ideas

 

[iObama]

Couldn’t he keep his sexuality separate from his work, please? Why did he feel the need to tell the world in an essay that he’s more eggplant than apricots. How can that even be among his greatest quotes as CEO

Because there are people like yourself who are STILL (in the year of our lord 2026!) so offended by the prospect of LGBTQ+ people in the public sphere that they take the time to write comments like yours — intentionally attempting to diminish the fact that we are still fighting against bigotry and for equal rights and representation.

Not complicated.

 

[Hammerd]

Why?

Because people like you make the world a harder place to live in for gay kids and he wanted to give them some hope.

That’s why. He actually said it in the essay.

Wdym by people like me?

“Gays kids” specifically don’t need hope because they are just kids like any others. Just give every kids hope?
People are not defined by their sexual preference whatever you may think.
Kids shouldn’t even be sorted out by supposed sexual orientation to start with.
Kudos to all

 

[Tig_one]

I’m ready for the Tim era to be over honestly, time for new blood to run the company with new ideas

Likewise but don't get your hopes up with Ternus either.

 

[swingerofbirch]

He never, publicly at least, offered much insight into tech, but this well considered collection of quotes makes his thoughts more interesting as they punctuate interesting moments in Apple and the world's history. I hadn't forgotten about his coming out essay, but it wasn't top of mind. It is probably out of all the quotes the one that most brings me back to a particular moment in time. Not that progress then or now is better or worse; it's all in flux. Just that his act in doing so at that time, in the lead up to the Supreme Court ruling that would follow the next year and with general direction of the country, had a quality and movement that is very specific to 2014.