But what will the John Ternus era really look like? Will he be able to correct Apple’s mistakes and put the company on the path to further prosperity? And what will that future look like for you? I’ve gazed into the tea leaves, examined my fair share of entrails and read every palm I can find to see if I can work it all out. Here’s what I reckon we could be in for.
Who is John Ternus?
Until being named as CEO, John Ternus was Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, and he’s overseen the physical products that have made Apple such a success. (Apple announced that Johny Srouji will succeed Ternus as hardware chief.)
He first joined Apple in 2001 as part of the company’s product design team, with a particular focus on the much-loved Cinema Display. He graduated to Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and was then promoted to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2021.
As the hardware engineering lead, he at first handled Apple’s AirPods, iPad and Mac hardware divisions. iPhone hardware was added to that roster in 2020, with the Apple Watch being put under his purview in 2022. He also played a leading role in Apple’s transition away from Intel processors and towards Apple silicon, taking to the stage and conducting interviews to promote the new chips.
And since the ouster of John Giannandrea as Apple’s AI chief in 2025, the company’s secret robotics projects have been moved under Ternus’s aegis, too.
John Ternus played an instrumental role in the Apple silicon transition for the Mac.
Apple
At 51, he’s also one of the youngest members of Apple’s senior leadership team and taking ober at almost the exact same age as Tim Cook was when he became CEO in 2011, 15 years ago. That tells you that in making this move, Apple is planning for the long haul. If all goes well for the company, Ternus could be in charge for the next decade and a half, if not more.
