Is the Tim Cook Era Ending? Report Suggests Early 2026 Exit

The question of succession at the world's most valuable company appears to be moving from theoretical planning to active preparation. According to a new report from The Financial Times, Apple is getting serious about the post-Tim Cook era, with the board and senior executives reportedly bracing for the possibility that the CEO could step down as soon as early next year. The timeline being discussed suggests a transition shortly after Apple’s earnings report in late January. This schedule is strategic: it would grant the new leadership team a crucial runway to settle into their roles before the company’s high-stakes Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

At 65 years old, Cook has now served as chief executive longer than Steve Jobs did, having taken the helm after Jobs’ resignation in 2011. His tenure has been defined by staggering financial success; under his stewardship, Apple’s market capitalization has exploded from $350 billion to $4 trillion. However, the report notes that the company has recently faced challenges in finding its footing within the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. While no final decisions have been made regarding the specific timing or the final choice of successor, the report identifies Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, John Ternus, as the individual viewed most likely to take the reins.