Apple CEO Tim Cook comments on retirement Apfelpatient

The topic of leadership changes comes up regularly at Apple, especially when it comes to CEO Tim Cook. At an internal general meeting, Cook briefly addressed his future again. While there were no concrete statements about retirement, his choice of words suggests how intensively Apple is already considering the time after his departure.

Tim Cook has been at the helm of Apple for more than a decade. Every statement regarding his potential departure is closely watched because it offers insights into the company's long-term strategy. His recent comments align with a series of reports and assessments indicating that Apple is carefully preparing for the transition, without confirming a specific date.

Long-term perspective instead of specific dates

At the employee meeting on Thursday, Tim Cook only indirectly addressed the topic of retirement. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Cook stated that he thinks a lot about who will still be part of the company in five or ten years. His focus on a period of up to 15 years was particularly striking. These statements suggest less a concrete retirement plan and more a strong emphasis on long-term stability and succession planning at Apple.

Speculation about a resignation from 2026 onwards

Several months ago, the Financial Times reported that Apple might be preparing for Cook to step down as CEO as early as 2026. Mark Gurman, however, strongly disagreed with this scenario, calling it "unlikely" and saying he would be "shocked" if Cook were to resign before the middle of this year. Based on this assessment, it is quite possible that Cook will remain in office at least until WWDC 2026.

John Ternus as likely successor

Within Apple, John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, is considered the most promising candidate to succeed Tim Cook. According to Gurman, Cook handed over responsibility for Apple's design teams to Ternus at the end of last year. This move is seen both internally and externally as a clear signal that Ternus is the leading candidate for the CEO position and is already more heavily involved in key decision-making processes.

Tim Cook's role after leaving the CEO position

Regardless of the exact timing of his resignation, there is speculation that Cook could assume the chairmanship of Apple's board of directors after his time as CEO. In this position, he would retain influence over strategic decisions and help shape the company's long-term direction, even without managing day-to-day operations.

Apple is more successful than ever – thanks to Tim Cook

Apple is gradually preparing for the post-Tim Cook era

Tim Cook has been CEO of Apple since August 2011 and reached the standard retirement age of 65 last year. Signs indicate that his time at the helm of the company is slowly drawing to a close. At the same time, it remains unclear whether a resignation is actually imminent in the coming months or whether such reports are premature. One thing is certain: Apple plans for the long term and is preparing the leadership transition step by step. (Image: Shutterstock / Ringo Chiu)