Arthur Levinson

Apple said Tim Cook would become executive chairman and John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, would become CEO effective September 1, 2026, after a unanimous board vote and what it called a long-term succession planning process. Cook would stay CEO through the summer and, as executive chairman, engage with policymakers; Arthur Levinson would move from non-executive chairman to lead independent director and Ternus would join the board.

According to the Form 8-K Apple filed on April 20, the board appointed Ternus, then 50, as chief executive officer and a member of the board on April 17, 2026, three days before the public announcement, with both appointments effective on the September 1 transition date. The filing noted that Ternus's compensation would be disclosed in a later amendment.

Six weeks after Steve Jobs's death, Apple named Arthur D. Levinson non-executive chairman. Levinson had been a co-lead director since 2005 and on the board since 2000; Disney CEO Robert Iger joined the board the same day. Levinson would hold the chair for the next fifteen years.

Apple's board announced that Steve Jobs had resigned as chief executive and named Tim Cook, then chief operating officer, as CEO with immediate effect. Jobs became chairman and Cook joined the board. Art Levinson, speaking for the board, said Jobs had recommended the board implement its succession plan.