Tim Cook Succession at Apple: John Ternus Emerges as Frontrunner as Board Steps Up Planning (Nov. 17, 2025)
Apple is accelerating CEO succession plans as Tim Cook turns 65; hardware chief John Ternus is widely viewed as the leading internal candidate, with any announcement unlikely before January earnings. Dateline — Nov. 17, 2025 Apple has intensified its CEO succession planning as it prepares for the possibility that Tim Cook could step down as early as next year, according to multiple reports this week. The Financial Times first reported the shift; Reuters added that Apple’s board and senior executives have “recently intensified” preparations and that hardware engineering chief John Ternus is seen as the most likely successor. Apple declined