HomeNEWSWith Apple’s No. 2 retiring, here’s who might be next in line...

With Apple’s No. 2 retiring, here’s who might be next in line for CEO


If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission.

Who wants to be Apple’s next CEO? Following in Steve Jobs and Tim Cook’s footsteps is going to be one of the industry’s biggest challenges. After all, while Jobs had the vision, Cook was responsible for making Apple one of the most valuable companies of all time.

With Apple’s COO Jeff Williams announcing his retirement, not only is Apple’s “old gang” departing, but the list of potential future CEOs is shrinking as well.

Today’s Top Deals

In a press release, Apple said its next chief operating officer will be Sabih Khan, the company’s senior vice president of operations. While the company says this is “part of a long-planned succession,” it’s always notable when a top executive at Apple steps down.

Apple's COO Jeff Williams during Apple Watch Series 4 announcement
Apple’s COO Jeff Williams during Apple Watch Series 4 announcement

Williams joined Apple in 1998, and since 2015, he has been the company’s COO. While he was previously rumored to be one of the top candidates for becoming Apple’s next CEO, his close age to Cook’s made him less of a suitable candidate.

Therefore, it seems there’s only one logical name left to replace Cook once he eventually steps down as Apple’s CEO: John Ternus. He’s senior VP of hardware engineering and has already been rumored as the most likely candidate in the line of succession.

Ternus is responsible for the transition of the Mac to Apple Silicon. He also oversees the iPad, the iPhone, AirPods, and most recently, the Vision Pro headset and Apple’s robotics unit. At 50 years old, he’s one of the youngest senior VPs at Apple, and even if Tim Cook spends another half-decade as CEO, Ternus would still have plenty of time to run Apple.

Over the past few years, we’ve watched several Apple executives step down, which also makes this a crucial moment in Cupertino, as Apple needs to reassure customers and investors that it has a plan for maintaining its position at the top of the tech world.

Last year, Apple’s longtime CFO Lucas Maestri stepped down into a smaller role. Apple’s former hardware engineering chief, Dan Riccio, retired in 2024, while Phil Schiller, Apple’s marketing leader, stepped into a more minor role at the App Store in 2020. In 2019, Apple’s design chief Jony Ive left the company to start his own design firm.

Apple's John Ternus detailing the iPad Pro's improved cooling system.
Apple’s John Ternus detailing the iPad Pro’s improved cooling system.

Interestingly, in 2023, Apple CEO Tim Cook was interviewed by Dua Lipa, and he offered some insights regarding his successor:

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular