Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent a final message to employees on his last day leading the company, marking the end of a 15-year tenure that transformed Apple into one of the most valuable companies in the world. The note, addressed simply to “Team,” was shared with staff on Aug. 31, 2026, as Cook handed the chief executive role to John Ternus, Apple’s longtime hardware engineering chief.
Key facts at a glance
- Tim Cook’s last day as Apple CEO was Aug. 31, 2026.
- John Ternus, previously Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, is the new CEO.
- Cook’s final letter praised Apple’s culture, thanked employees, and expressed confidence in Ternus.
- Cook is not leaving Apple entirely and will take on a new role at Apple Park.
A historic transition at Apple
Cook took over as CEO in August 2011, just weeks before Steve Jobs resigned and later died. At the time, investors and fans worried that Apple would lose the visionary spark that had produced the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Cook answered those doubts by making Apple even bigger, more profitable, and more embedded in everyday life. Under his leadership, Apple introduced the Apple Watch, AirPods, Face ID, Apple Pay, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and a transition to Apple’s own M-series chips. The company repeatedly broke sales records and at various points became the first publicly traded company to close above $3 trillion in market value.
Cook also made Apple a louder voice on issues such as privacy, the environment, and accessibility. He argued that privacy is a basic human right and pushed back against government demands for backdoors. Apple committed to becoming carbon neutral across its entire supply chain by 2030. Cook expanded Apple’s focus on diversity and inclusion, and he became one of the most prominent openly gay CEOs in the world, earning admiration for his candid remarks about discrimination.
Cook’s final letter to Apple staff
In his farewell message, Cook wrote: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Cook also reflected on what makes Apple special. “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,” he wrote. “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.”
The note also addressed his departure from the CEO role. “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,” Cook wrote.
He praised Ternus directly: “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.” Cook closed his letter with a simple thank-you: “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.”
His final sign-off was: “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 path to the top
Before becoming CEO, Cook built a reputation as a supply chain expert. He joined Apple in 1998 after stints at IBM, Intelligent Electronics, and Compaq. His job was to fix Apple’s manufacturing, distribution, and inventory problems. He closed factories and warehouses, pushed suppliers, and made Apple far more efficient. Those improvements helped generate the cash needed to develop new products. By 2005, Cook had been promoted to chief operating officer, and he frequently ran the company when Jobs was on medical leave.
Apple’s annual revenue stood at roughly $108 billion in the fiscal year before Cook became CEO. In fiscal 2024, Apple reported about $391 billion in revenue. It also became a cash machine, returning hundreds of billions to shareholders. Services alone grew from a few billion in the early years to over $90 billion annually in recent years, making it Apple’s second-largest segment after the iPhone.
Cook oversaw the launch of larger-screen iPhones, including the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which became the company’s best-selling models at the time. Apple Watch created a new wearables category. AirPods became a cultural phenomenon. Face ID replaced Touch ID on flagship devices. The M1 chip transition was a strategic move that gave Apple control over its core hardware and helped improve performance and battery life.
Who is John Ternus?
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become the company’s next CEO. Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and quickly became a key figure in the development of the Mac and iPad. He was promoted to lead hardware engineering in 2021, taking over from Dan Riccio. In that role, he oversaw the successful transition from Intel processors to Apple Silicon, including the M1, M2, and later chips. He has also been involved in development of the Vision Pro headset, AirPods, and other products.
Ternus is less known publicly than Cook, but he is highly respected inside Apple. He has a reputation for being calm, direct, and deeply focused on product quality. Cook’s decision to praise him as “brilliant and wonderful and capable” suggests a smooth handoff and confidence in Apple’s direction.
Cook’s leadership style and legacy
Cook’s leadership style was different from Jobs’s. He was calm, methodical, and less public. But investors grew to value his consistency. Under his watch, Apple’s stock multiplied several times, making it one of the greatest wealth creators in history. He also championed a more collaborative and inclusive workplace culture. Employees were encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, and Cook regularly highlighted stories of how Apple products changed people’s lives.
His tenure was not without challenges. Apple faced antitrust scrutiny over its App Store practices, criticism over its supply chain and labor practices, and debates about manufacturing in China. Cook navigated those issues carefully, often using his public platform to present Apple’s side of the story. He was also known for being disciplined about long-term strategy, investing heavily in research and development, and resisting short-term pressure to chase trends.
What comes next for Apple
Ternus inherits a very different Apple than Cook did. The company faces regulatory pressure in Europe and the United States, slowing smartphone sales, and competitive pressure in artificial intelligence. He will need to navigate Apple’s growing services business and decide how to push further into health, augmented reality, and AI.
Apple has not disclosed exactly what Cook’s new role will be. He said he plans to remain at Apple Park and stay involved. Cook did not provide details in his letter, writing only that he looked forward to seeing employees in his new role at Apple Park and around the world. The transition from one CEO to another is one of the most closely watched moments in modern technology, and Cook’s final message made clear that he believes Apple is in good hands.
Source: The Verge News