When Will Tim Cook Step Down as Apple CEO? Here's What Reports Say

[MacRumors]

There has been increasing discussion about Tim Cook eventually stepping down as Apple's CEO, but reports have offered differing timelines.

A few months ago, the Financial Times reported that Apple was preparing for Cook to step down as soon as early 2026. In his Power On newsletter today, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that timeframe "seems unlikely."

Gurman previously said he would be "shocked" if Cook stepped down before the middle of 2026, so he might remain CEO through WWDC in June at a minimum.

There has been speculation that Cook might become the chairman of Apple's board of directors after he steps down as CEO, but it seems like that transition will not happen imminently, as Apple's current chairman Arthur D. Levinson is up for re-election at the company's annual shareholders meeting on February 24.

Apple has a guideline stating that directors generally may not stand for re-election after age 75, but the company asked shareholders to make an exemption for 75-year-old Levinson, due to his significant experience and expertise.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, is widely viewed as Cook's most likely successor. Earlier this week, Gurman reported that Cook gave oversight of Apple's design teams to Ternus at the end of last year, and he said this move makes it "crystal clear" that Ternus is the leading CEO candidate.

Cook has been Apple's CEO since August 2011, and he reached the typical retirement age of 65 last year. It is sounding more and more likely that his time in charge of the company is inching towards the end, but Gurman seems confident that a passing of the baton is still many months away at least, rather than something that is imminent.

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Article Link: When Will Tim Cook Step Down as Apple CEO? Here's What Reports Say

 

[Nyx1]

Step down more like upgrade become chairman

 

[JPack]

It'll be interesting to see if Ternus can deliver on a new, non-iPhone dependent product category that Cook failed on.

 

[I7guy]

It'll be interesting to see if Ternus can deliver on a new, non-iPhone dependent product category that Cook failed on.

Well if he fails he’d be in good company as every ceo has had a failed product.

 

[deconstruct60]

​

A few months ago, the Financial Times reported that Apple was preparing for Cook to step down as soon as early 2026. In his Power On newsletter today, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that timeframe "seems unlikely."

Gurman previously said he would be "shocked" if Cook stepped down before the middle of 2026, so he might remain CEO through WWDC in June at a minimum.

I think this is a misreprentation of what Gurman has been saying. I heard him on Bloomberg media on Friday and his overall tone was more along the line of "not for a while". A substantial amount of time. This 'spin' if not June it will be Sept or before the end of the year probably isn't true. The notion of "it is just around the corner" is more click bait headlines and stoking the anti-Cook fires .

Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, is widely viewed as Cook's most likely successor. Earlier this week, Gurman reported that Cook gave oversight of Apple's design teams to Ternus at the end of last year, and he said this move makes it "crystal clear" that Ternus is the leading CEO candidate.

Termus started off at Apple in Design. Handing Termus design when the head of design just ran off to OpenAI doesn't particularly say anything 'crystal clear'. Of the all of the executive team left who already had some time in Design before? Go look at the list. If no one , then that is far more a sudden vacancy fill ( and irresponible former leadere of design not to have replacement hread... but hey .. 'Liquid Glass' say loads about competency there too. ) Termus duties heading some hardware implicitly would involve liason duties between Design and the group has was currently in. There is no huge broadening of his exposure to the breadth of Apple.

Finally, if Apple is asking stockholders to keep Levinson past the age deadline why would they board be pushing another older person out quickly???

Apple's bigger issue is that they do not have a clear leading candidate.

 

[al256]

I just want to know what he loves doing that’s public facing and what he hates doing that’s public facing. That might indicate when he’d leave and what he’d stay for.

 

[Calle68]

Let me guess: too late.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

Given that we haven't seen anything (leaked or official) denying that Cook will step down, I think signs point to it actually happening.

 

[Wx_Man]

This is precisely the same rumor and speculation from a couple of months ago.

 

[Lioness~]

These people seems to stepping round in a circle...

 

[TSE]

Best CEO of all time.

Not trolling.

 

[deconstruct60]

It'll be interesting to see if Ternus can deliver on a new, non-iPhone dependent product category that Cook failed on.

Why would Apple create a product with absolutely zero synergy with their current ecosystem?

You mean like when Intel bought McAfee ? How did that turn out?

The Apple Watch stops working if leave the iPhone at home? Apple TV+ service stops working if don't have an iPhone to watch that content on? 'F1' movie nominated for a Academy award is a complete bust?

 

[kkclstuff]

not soon enough

 

[ghanwani]

He will step down when it's clear Apple won't be able to ship the folding iPhone, but before that news reaches the public.

 

[Roberto1234]

I hope it's in the next few hours.

 

[sw1tcher]

Tim Cook will continue to be CEO for at least the next 3 years. No one at Apple is better capable than Cook to navigate this crazy geopolitical and geoeconomical environment.

 

[hajime]

Given that we haven't seen anything (leaked or official) denying that Cook will step down, I think signs point to it actually happening.

Cook has to leave, one way or the other.

 

[Serrafemme]

Tim already failed to give us actual Apple Intelligence. We got to piggyback off ChatGPT. Now we get to piggyback off Gemini

 

[I7guy]

Cook has to leave, one way or the other.

He will. When it is time. As long as he stays Apple gets the benefit of his years at Apple.

 

[UltimaKilo]

There has been way too much turnover lately for Cook to step down.

 

[UltimaKilo]

Tim Cook will continue to be CEO for at least the next 3 years. No one at Apple is better capable than Cook to navigate this crazy geopolitical and geoeconomical environment.

You can't force him to stay either. At some point those highly stressful jobs become tiresome and shorten your lifespan, although Tim seems to take care of himself. I'd wager another year or two, at most.

 

[gleepskip]

Like most products at Apple, his departure as CEO is going to be pushed back.

 

[I7guy]

Like most products at Apple, his departure as CEO is going to be pushed back.

That's a good thing.

 

[Wanted797]

The Apple Watch stops working if leave the iPhone at home? Apple TV+ service stops working if don't have an iPhone to watch that content on? 'F1' movie nominated for a Academy award is a complete bust?

What are you talking about? The Apple Watch will work away from you phone. You can use literally every feature outside cellular connection ones and if you want those features… buy the cellular one.

Apple TV+ is available via website, and Apple/Andoird device and downloadable on smart tvs.

 

[Yr Blues]

I have more Linux PCs than Macs now. I'll probably dump my phone eventually.