NEWS
Tim Cook Bids Apple Employees Farewell as He Steps Down as CEO After 15 Years
…as John Ternus is Expected to Take Over as Apple’s New CEO From September 1
Apple Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook has officially reached the end of his tenure as the company’s chief executive, bringing an era of leadership to a close as he prepares to hand over the reins to hardware engineering chief John Ternus.
After years at the helm of one of the world’s most influential technology companies, Cook is spending his final day as CEO reflecting on his journey, the people who worked alongside him and the culture he believes has been central to Apple’s success.
Beginning September 1, Ternus is expected to take over as Apple’s new CEO, marking a major leadership transition for the technology giant.
Although Cook is stepping away from the top executive position, he is not leaving Apple. He will remain with the company in a different capacity, allowing him to continue contributing to the organisation while Ternus assumes responsibility for leading the company into its next chapter.
In a farewell memo shared with Apple employees, Cook described the moment as one he had always known would eventually arrive but admitted that it was still difficult to believe it had finally come.
“Team,
“Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
“The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.
“There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary.
“Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up.
“We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.
“As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.
“I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.
“I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.
“With all I have and all I am, I am always
“Yours,
“Tim”
Cook’s departure as CEO represents a significant turning point for Apple, with Ternus now preparing to take charge of a company operating at the centre of the global technology industry.
For Cook, however, the transition is not a goodbye to Apple. His farewell makes clear that while his role is changing, his connection to the company and its employees remains deeply rooted.
His final message was less about looking back at individual products, financial milestones or corporate achievements and more about the people and culture he believes made those accomplishments possible.
As he prepares to watch Apple’s next chapter unfold from a new position, Cook leaves the CEO role with a message centred on gratitude, continuity and confidence in the leadership that comes next.