CUPERTINO, CA—The question of who will eventually take the helm of the world’s most valuable company is intensifying as Apple CEO Tim Cook approaches his 65th birthday and a significant shake-up in the executive ranks has cleared the path for new frontrunners. While there has been no official retirement announcement, Apple’s well-known culture of promoting from within suggests a few key executives are being groomed for the top job.

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The clearest signal of a leadership transition came recently with the departure of Jeff Williams, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer. Williams, long seen as a potential “natural successor” due to his role mirroring Cook’s previous position under Steve Jobs, stepped down from operational duties in July and is set to fully retire later this year. His exit has reportedly opened up the field, with new focus landing on a major internal candidate.

 

The Frontrunner: John Ternus

 

According to industry analysts and reports from those close to Apple, John Ternus, the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, has emerged as the leading contender.

• Hardware Architect: Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, has been instrumental in the development of nearly all of Apple’s core products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods. Crucially, he oversaw the monumental transition of the Mac to Apple Silicon.
• Rising Profile: His public profile has been steadily increasing, often featuring prominently at Apple’s keynote events to introduce new products. The company’s Public Relations efforts have reportedly begun “putting the spotlight on Ternus,” a subtle indication of a potential succession plan.
• Technologist First: At 50 years old, Ternus is viewed as a charismatic and well-regarded technologist, a profile that may appeal to a board looking to ensure continued product innovation. He has also recently seen his responsibilities expand, including taking charge of the Apple Watch hardware engineering following the COO transition.

 

The Top Tier of Contenders

 

While Ternus appears to be in the lead, Apple’s deep bench of veteran executives provides several other highly qualified candidates:

Candidate	Current Role	Key Strengths for CEO
Craig Federighi	Senior VP, Software Engineering	The charismatic public face of Apple’s software (iOS, macOS, visionOS, watchOS), deep product knowledge, and a strong history of engaging with developers.
Greg Joswiak	Senior VP, Worldwide Marketing	A 30-year Apple veteran, known as “Joz,” who has a broad overview of the company’s messaging and product strategy, often fronting major iPhone announcements.
Sabih Khan	Chief Operating Officer (New Role)	The newly appointed COO, succeeding Williams. By precedent, the COO is often next in line for the CEO role, underscoring his deep operational and supply chain experience.
Eddy Cue	Senior VP, Services	A long-serving executive leading the booming and critical Services division (Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud), a massive growth area for the company.

 

The Road Ahead

 

Apple’s Board of Directors is known for its rigorous and deliberate approach to succession planning, a lesson learned from the final years of Steve Jobs’ tenure. The next CEO will inherit a multi-trillion-dollar company facing new challenges, including the rapid acceleration of AI integration (Apple Intelligence) and the need to push into entirely new product categories.

Analysts believe the handover will be a gradual, multi-year process, mirroring the careful transition from Jobs to Cook in 2011. The individual who ultimately steps into the role will be tasked with balancing Cook’s legacy of stable, massive growth with the need for bold, groundbreaking innovation. For now, all eyes remain on the subtle changes in executive visibility and responsibilities within Apple Park.