Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after 15 years, John Ternus takes charge

Mangalore Today News Network

US, Sep 1, 2026: After 15 years of leading one of the world’s most recognisable technology companies, Tim Cook has officially signed off as Apple CEO. On his final day in the role, August 31, Cook took to X to share a brief but emotional message with the Apple community. “Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO. My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will."

Cook thanked the Apple community for being a constant source of inspiration, adding: “My gratitude is endless, and I’m excited for the next chapter!"

 

And the internet had plenty to say about the end of the Cook era. Among those congratulating him was Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, who wrote: “Congratulations on an epic career at Apple!"

Another user thanked Cook while sharing their love for taking photographs on an iPhone. Someone else summed up the moment more simply: “End of an era, what a run!"

But not everyone was feeling nostalgic.

One commenter took aim at Apple’s decision to remove accessories such as the charger from the iPhone box while keeping prices unchanged, writing that this was why many customers “won’t remember your era fondly."

Others, however, offered a much more glowing assessment of Cook’s tenure. One lengthy post praised Cook for taking Apple from a company valued at roughly $350 billion to around $4 trillion, while arguing that the company continued to maintain a focus on customer experience despite its enormous commercial success.

Another user praised Cook for Apple, writing “Congrats Tim on an incredible journey at Apple. Few people have ever shipped at that scale without letting the bar for excellence slip. You’ve raised the standard for all of us to aspire to; thanks for everything."

Cook’s departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter that began when he succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011. During his tenure, Apple expanded its product ecosystem with products including the Apple Watch and AirPods, while also significantly growing its services business and manufacturing footprint.

Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO. My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration. My gratitude is endless, and I’m excited for the next chapter!

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 31, 2026

Apple’s market value also soared during Cook’s tenure, reaching around the $4 trillion mark, while the company became increasingly reliant on services, subscriptions and its broader ecosystem. But Cook’s legacy isn’t without criticism. His era has also faced questions around Apple’s pricing, App Store policies, regulatory battles, dependence on China for manufacturing and the company’s slower progress in artificial intelligence compared with some rivals.

From September 1, Cook becomes Apple’s executive chairman, while John Ternus, Apple’s former senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, takes over as CEO. Apple said the transition was part of a long-term succession plan.