Who Is John Ternus, Apple's New CEO?

Apple has announced a significant leadership change, with John Turnus set to replace Tim Cook as CEO in September. This move signals Apple's future focus. Turnus, a 25-year Apple veteran, has served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering since 2021, overseeing hardware teams responsible for 80% of revenue, including products like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro. At 50, Turnus is the youngest serious internal contender, described by colleagues as steady, trusted, and deeply product-focused—a builder rather than an AI visionary. He has a background in mechanical engineering and has worked on nearly every product type Apple makes. Turnus has been a regular presenter at Apple events since 2017, introducing various product lines, including the iPad Pro and the Mac transition to Apple Silicon. A major challenge for Turnus will be leading Apple in the AI space, where it has lagged behind competitors. Despite past concerns, Turnus has expressed confidence that Apple is not falling behind in AI. Concurrently, Johnny Saruji, Apple's long-time chip chief, will be elevated to chief hardware officer, taking over Turnus's expanded role. Saruji has overseen the development of Apple's custom silicon, which could give Apple a significant advantage in running AI models locally on its devices. Apple is reportedly working on AI wearables, including smart glasses, a necklace pendant, and AirPods with cameras. As Apple prepares to release its Gemini-enhanced Siri, Turnus will need to present a clear AI strategy to investors, addressing whether a hardware operator is suitable for this task.