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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.

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"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.

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Top Rated Comments

21 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
21 weeks ago
Lotsa time to chill with his Vision Pro now!



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Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghost187 Avatar
21 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)
21 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
21 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)
21 weeks ago
I'm hoping we go back to in-person keynotes this Fall. Only time will tell...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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