Tim Cook Says He's 'Healthy,' Plans to Remain at Apple 'for a Long Time' - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Tim Cook Says He's 'Healthy,' Plans to Remain at Apple 'for a Long Time'

Tim Cook today told employees he plans to be at Apple "for a long time" in his new role as executive chairman. Cook shared the information in an all-hands meeting detailed by Bloomberg.

tim cook macbook pro
"I am healthy. My energy is high, and I plan to be in this role for a long time," said Cook. He said he will support current hardware engineering chief John Ternus in any way necessary when Ternus takes over as CEO, and he plans to continue to offer knowledge and experience whenever it's needed. "Apple will be my top priority," he said. "It's who I am at my core, and I can't imagine it any other way."

Cook is stepping down from his role as Apple CEO, handing the company over to Ternus. Apple announced the upcoming change yesterday, and said that Cook will remain on as executive chairman, where he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world."

During the meeting, Cook told employees that he thinks he can help with strengthening Apple's global relationships. When asked why he is stepping down now, Cook said that it was a good time because Apple is "doing great," the product lineup is "incredible," and Ternus is ready for the role. "These three things all intersected, and they intersect now. And so now was the time," said Cook.

Cook is set to remain CEO through September 1, 2026, at which point he will move into his new role and Ternus will take over as CEO. Cook will see Apple through WWDC, but Ternus will be leading the company by the time the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold launch.

Popular Stories

tim cook john ternus apple ceo

Tim Cook and John Ternus Attend Sun Valley Conference Together

Wednesday July 8, 2026 6:07 am PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook and incoming CEO John Ternus are attending this year's Sun Valley Conference, according to Forbes. Allen & Co., the boutique investment firm behind the event, uses the conference as an annual excuse to put media, tech, and finance leaders in the same rooms for a week of closed-door talks at the Sun Valley Lodge. This year's event began on July 7 and is expected to run...
Stocks App Icon and Apple Logo Feature

You Can Listen to Tim Cook's Final Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today

Thursday July 30, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
Tim Cook will participate in his final Apple earnings call as the company's CEO today. The call begins at 2 p.m. Pacific Time / 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh will discuss Apple's earnings results for the second quarter of the 2026 calendar year on the live-streamed conference call. While the call is primarily intended for Apple shareholders and Wall Street analysts, anyone...
tim cook macbook pro

Tim Cook Thanks Shareholders on His Final Apple Earnings Call

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:26 pm PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook today confirmed that today's call was his last as CEO, with John Ternus set to become Apple's new CEO on September 1. Cook will transition to a new role as executive chairman when Ternus becomes CEO. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of you, from our shareholders, particularly our long-term shareholders who have put their trust in us for so many years, ...

Top Rated Comments

14 weeks ago
I guess I'm just wired differently but with a net worth in the 3-4 billion range, I'd have retired a long time ago.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
14 weeks ago
Lotsa time to chill with his Vision Pro now!



Attachment Image
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghost187 Avatar
14 weeks ago
MacBook Neo might go down as his most successful new product launch, because supply chain was Tim’s specialty.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
14 weeks ago
I know some of you want him (Cook) gone, but it is wise that he is going to stay around and manage the current global relationships. Perhaps Ternus will be able to own that piece eventually, too, but those relationships take time to build and take a lot of time away from other things. And leaders . . . people as different as the leaders of China, the UK, Germany, South Korean, India, Canada, the US, etc . . . will all take Cook's call, and listen to him when he does *need* to press back. We have several instances of this in the last 15 years, including most recently with India where the PM himself seems to have overruled his own underlings because Cook was, reportedly, able to have a frank discussion with him about certain impacts. If Cook was out there criticizing the India PM all the time because of admittedly serious issues in that country, he would never have had the influence to do what he did. And Apple would have been forced to install government malware on phones in that country, or just leave the Indian market--which I get some of you would be ok with, but I don't think makes any sense for the company (its shareholders and employees), nor the consumers in India. Some of you clearly want Apple's leadership to be part of the "resistance" in the US and lead more of the world's social justice movements . . . as if Apple and Cook himself haven't done any of that at all, which is absurd given how you compare them/him against the likes of Oracle/Ellison or any number of global companies and leaders I could easily name . . . but I could not imagine a more short-sighted thing for such an important company's incoming CEO to focus on right now. Let Cook take any remaining arrows while Ternus focuses on product, including their AI strategy.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ikramerica Avatar
14 weeks ago
He’s old. Tail end of the boomers, and retiring at a reasonable age so the next generation can take over.

Unlike all our geriatric politicians who think it’s a lifetime appointment because losing elections as an incumbent is rare.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
14 weeks ago
I'm hoping we go back to in-person keynotes this Fall. Only time will tell...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors