There has been a lot of talk lately about Tim Cook possibly stepping down as Apple CEO. However, reports from different sources have been giving different timelines. A few months ago, the Financial Times reported that Apple was preparing for Cook to step down in early 2026. However, in his new Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that this timeline “seems unlikely.”
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Gurman had previously said that he would be shocked if Tim Cook left before mid-2026. This means, according to Gurman, Cook could remain CEO at least until WWDC in June.
There has also been speculation that Cook could take over as chairman after he steps down as CEO. However, it appears that transition won't happen immediately, as Apple's current chairman, Arthur D. Levinson, is up for re-election at the company's annual shareholder meeting on February 24.Apple has a policy that says directors generally cannot stand for re-election after the age of 75, but the company asked shareholders to make an exception for Levinson, citing significant experience and expertise (among other factors).
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Who will become Apple CEO after Tim Cook?
Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, is widely seen as Cook's most likely successor. Earlier this week, Gurman reported that Cook had given oversight of Apple's design teams to Ternus, and said the move makes it "extremely clear" that Ternus is the leading candidate for the CEO position.
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Cook has been Apple's CEO since August 2011 and reached the standard retirement age of 65 last year. It sounds increasingly likely that his time at the helm of the company is coming to an end, but Gurman seems confident that the handover is still a few months away (at least).
