{ "data_version": "1", "schema": "https://whatledto.com/data", "id": "arthur-levinson", "name": "Arthur Levinson", "kind": "person", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/arthur-levinson", "description": "Chair of Apple's board.", "same_as": [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_D._Levinson" ], "timelines": [ { "slug": "apple-ceo-succession", "title": "Apple CEO Succession: How Tim Cook Handed Apple to John Ternus", "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/apple-ceo-succession", "json": "https://whatledto.com/events/apple-ceo-succession.json", "role": "Apple’s non-executive board chairman from 2011 until the 2026 transition, when he became lead independent director.", "entries": 4, "updated_at": "2026-10-14T04:05:02.255377+00:00" } ], "entries": [ { "timeline": "apple-ceo-succession", "id": 231, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/apple-ceo-succession#n231", "date": "2026-04-20", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Apple announces Tim Cook will become executive chairman and John Ternus CEO on September 1, 2026", "summary": "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.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "Apple", "Tim Cook", "John Ternus", "Arthur Levinson" ], "parties": [ "apple", "tim-cook", "john-ternus", "arthur-levinson" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/04/tim-cook-to-become-apple-executive-chairman-john-ternus-to-become-apple-ceo/", "outlet": "Apple Newsroom", "published": "2026-04-20", "quote": "The transition, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process." } ] }, { "timeline": "apple-ceo-succession", "id": 230, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/apple-ceo-succession#n230", "date": "2026-04-17", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Apple's board appoints John Ternus CEO and director, effective September 1", "summary": "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.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "Apple", "John Ternus", "Tim Cook", "Arthur Levinson" ], "parties": [ "apple", "john-ternus", "tim-cook", "arthur-levinson" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000114036126015711/ef20071035_8k.htm", "outlet": "SEC EDGAR", "published": "2026-04-20", "quote": "On April 17, 2026, the Board appointed John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, in each case effective on the Transition Date." }, { "url": "https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/04/tim-cook-to-become-apple-executive-chairman-john-ternus-to-become-apple-ceo/", "outlet": "Apple", "published": "2026-04-20", "quote": "CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026." } ] }, { "timeline": "apple-ceo-succession", "id": 224, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/apple-ceo-succession#n224", "date": "2011-11-15", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Arthur Levinson named non-executive chairman of Apple's board", "summary": "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.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "Apple", "Arthur Levinson", "Tim Cook" ], "parties": [ "apple", "arthur-levinson", "tim-cook" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2011/11/15enUS-Apple-Names-Arthur-D-Levinson-Chairman-of-the-Board/", "outlet": "Apple Newsroom", "published": "2011-11-15", "quote": "Levinson has been a co-lead director of Apple’s board since 2005, has served on all three board committees— audit and finance, nominating and corporate governance, and compensation—and will continue to serve on the audit committee." } ] }, { "timeline": "apple-ceo-succession", "id": 223, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/apple-ceo-succession#n223", "date": "2011-08-24", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Steve Jobs resigns and the board names Tim Cook CEO", "summary": "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.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "Apple", "Tim Cook", "Steve Jobs", "Arthur Levinson" ], "parties": [ "apple", "tim-cook", "steve-jobs", "arthur-levinson" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2011/08/24Steve-Jobs-Resigns-as-CEO-of-Apple/", "outlet": "Apple Newsroom", "published": "2011-08-24", "quote": "Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO." } ] } ], "often_with": [ { "id": "apple", "name": "Apple", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/apple", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/apple.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "macrumors", "name": "MacRumors", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/macrumors", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/macrumors.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "deirdre-obrien", "name": "Deirdre O’Brien", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/deirdre-obrien", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/deirdre-obrien.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "greg-joswiak", "name": "Greg Joswiak", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/greg-joswiak", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/greg-joswiak.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "john-ternus", "name": "John Ternus", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/john-ternus", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/john-ternus.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "kate-bergeron", "name": "Kate Bergeron", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/kate-bergeron", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/kate-bergeron.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "steve-jobs", "name": "Steve Jobs", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/steve-jobs", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/steve-jobs.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "tim-cook", "name": "Tim Cook", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/tim-cook", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/tim-cook.json", "shared_timelines": 1 } ], "license": { "holder": "What Led To", "terms": "https://whatledto.com/methodology#reuse", "summary": "Quote entries with attribution and a link to the entry; do not republish whole timelines or train models on the text." } }