Tim Cook‘s sixty fifth birthday is on the horizon (Nov. 1, to be precise), and with the Apple CEO’s special occasion looming, talks have allegedly been constructing inside the firm relating to his potential successor. To be clear, Cook dinner has made no official public point out of retirement or stepping down. However in line with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech large is working behind the scenes to make sure a seamless transition when the time comes.
Cook dinner changed Steve Jobs in 2011, and after a interval of uncertainty, Cook dinner ushered Apple into its most worthwhile period. Inventory-watching web site Stocktwits stories that the company’s stock increased about 1,800% since Cook dinner took over main the corporate.
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Jobs could have launched units just like the iPhone into on a regular basis use that modified how we work together with know-how, however Cook dinner expanded on the Apple expertise. Below his steerage, the corporate constructed upon Apple’s smartphone by introducing subscription providers and extra cell merchandise, together with earbuds and wearables.
He launched Apple Pay, Beats headphones turned a part of the corporate’s ecosystem, the Apple Watch launched 10 years in the past, and Apple even entered the leisure enterprise, producing authentic Oscar-winning motion pictures and Emmy-winning TV exhibits by way of Apple TV Plus.
When Cook dinner steps down, whoever is handed the keys has some massive sneakers to fill.
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Tim Cook dinner exhibits off the brand new orange iPhone 17 at 2025’s Apple Occasion.
We should always reiterate that the notion of Cook dinner stepping down is pure hypothesis at this level. We do not know what Apple’s CEO is at the moment planning or what his ideas about retirement could also be. That mentioned, there are a handful of contenders who’ve reportedly been a part of the succession dialog.
Potential Apple CEO replacements
John Ternus, Apple’s present vp of {Hardware} Engineering, was prime of Gurman’s record. Ternus has been with the tech large for over 20 years, so he has the information and expertise for a chief government improve. There can be worth in having an engineer behind the wheel.
Ternus appeared throughout the September Apple occasion to introduce the iPhone Air. At 50, he is the identical age Cook dinner was when he took over as Apple CEO.
Different potential contenders are additionally being thought of, together with Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vp of software program engineering; Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vp of worldwide advertising and marketing; and Jeff Williams, the corporate’s former chief working officer, in line with a report by Apple Insider.
Federighi has been with Apple for a very long time and has the general public talking expertise — incessantly talking throughout Apple Events — that will be very important if he changed Cook dinner as CEO. Contemplating his present function, Joswiak has a extra advertising and marketing perspective and a broader overview of the corporate and is probably not as hands-on with the tech as Ternus and Federighi. And in line with Gurman, Williams was considered as a shoe-in to be Cook dinner’s alternative till his function as COO led to July. (He is now Apple’s senior vp of design, watch and well being.) Cook dinner held the place of chief working officer earlier than he changed Jobs as CEO in 2011. Sabih Khan is now in that COO function, which additionally places his identify within the operating.
When Cook dinner steps down, Apple will undoubtedly have a pool of certified expertise to select from to take up the management mantle. Who precisely will take the mantle stays to be seen.
Apple did not instantly reply to a request for remark.
