With John Ternus now taking charge of Apple’s operations in Cupertino, longtime Apple leader Tim Cook has stepped down as CEO following the announcement confirmed earlier this year. Although Cook has relinquished the day-to-day leadership role, he remains deeply supportive of the company. In a heartfelt memo to employees on his final day as CEO, Cook reflected on his time leading Apple and expressed gratitude for the team he served.
Team,
Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.
There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.
As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.
I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.
I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.
With all I have and all I am, I am always
Yours,
Tim
Cook first joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011 when Steve Jobs stepped down. Over his tenure as CEO, Cook guided Apple through a period of significant expansion, with a strategic shift that placed greater emphasis on software and services in addition to the company’s core hardware offerings. This broader focus helped diversify revenue streams and reshape Apple into a company known as much for its integrated services as for its iconic devices.
Beyond financial results, Cook frequently emphasized values and culture. In his memo he highlighted the importance of a shared purpose and a workplace culture that encourages innovation, collaboration and responsibility. He credited Apple’s achievements not to any single leader, but to the collective talent, dedication and ethos of the teams across the company.
Ternus (left) with Cook (right). Photo courtesy of Apple.
John Ternus assumes the CEO role on September 1. Ternus’s career at Apple began within the product design team in 2001. He advanced through engineering leadership roles, becoming Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and later joining the executive leadership team in 2021 as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. This background gives him a deep technical and product-focused perspective, rooted in years of hands-on work designing and refining Apple hardware.
The leadership transition represents both continuity and change. With Cook remaining at Apple as Executive Chairman of the board of directors, the company keeps institutional memory and experience close at hand while giving day-to-day operational responsibility to a leader with a long history in Apple’s engineering and design ranks. That dual structure aims to preserve stability for employees, partners and customers while enabling fresh priorities and execution under new operational leadership.
For Apple employees and the broader technology community, the change prompts natural questions about future product direction and corporate priorities. Historically, Apple’s success has hinged on long-term investments in design, manufacturing, software integration and services. Ternus’s deep engineering background suggests continued emphasis on technical excellence and product development, while Cook’s stewardship and the fact he will remain involved at the board level help ensure strategic continuity.
As the company moves forward, culture remains a centerpiece in internal messaging. Cook’s memo repeatedly underscores the intangible strengths that have made Apple resilient: a shared sense of purpose, a commitment to quality, and a collaborative environment that allows individuals to accomplish things together that none could achieve alone. Those cultural attributes will be critical as Apple navigates the next chapter under Ternus’s leadership.
In the weeks and months ahead, observers will watch closely for signals about product roadmaps, services expansion and strategic investments. For Apple’s employees, customers and stakeholders, the leadership handoff is a reminder that while individuals matter, the company’s long-term momentum depends on teams, culture and sustained commitment to building products that aim to make a meaningful difference.