Who will be the next Apple CEO? The speculations around this is gaining traction as Apple's current CEO Tim Cook approaches his 64th birthday, which is the retirement age typically. The name John Ternus, a long-time loyalist and the current hardware engineering chief, could be the frontrunner for the CEO position. But he is not alone, there are other potential candidates for the position as well.
Tim Cook’s Retirement
Tim Cook, who took over from Apple's founder Steve Jobs in 2011, facilitated Apple's surpassing the $3 trillion market cap milestone, and could potentially propel the company beyond $4 trillion by 2025. Amid Speculations of Tim Cook’s retirement, he intends to remain at Apple for a minimum of three more years before considering any changes in his position, as per the Bloomberg report.
Throughout Tim Cook's leadership at Apple, Cook has overseen the launch of groundbreaking products like the Apple Watch, expanded into new business areas such as streaming video with Apple TV, and advanced mixed reality computing with the Apple Vision Pro.
In a recent podcast interview with singer Dua Lipa, Cook expressed his desire for his successor to "come from within Apple," indicating a preference for internal talent to lead the company forward, as company insiders are already considering several potential CEOs,
Who is John Ternus?
For the position of next CEO, all eyes are on John Ternus, the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple.
Ternus, aged 49 years, has over 23 years of experience at Apple and has played a vital role in shaping some of the company's most iconic products, including the iPhone, iPad, and AirPods. He reports directly to Tim Cook and joined Apple's Product Design team in 2001.
His journey within Apple began humbly, working on external Mac monitors, but his dedication and leadership skills propelled him up the ranks, eventually overseeing key product lines like the iPad and Mac. He has also played a major role in leading the Mac's transition to Apple silicon. His experience and time at Apple is what makes him a top contender for the CEO role.
Before working at Apple, Ternus was a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
John Ternus, however, has an advantage as he "well-liked inside Apple and earned Cook's respect", the report said. His coworkers commend his leadership skills, appreciating him as they say he's great at bringing hardware and software teams together for projects.
However, there is some speculation, if Ternus is the right fit for CEO at Apple because they think he might not focus enough on future technologies. Some point out that he hasn't been very involved in big projects like the Vision Pro headset or self-driving cars.
Recently, he's been more visible during product launches and other big company events, including a special event called the Top 100 in California’s Carmel Valley, where the company's top executives gather.
Other Potential Candidate
It is John Ternus, who is at the forefront of this race for the position of CEO. However, He is not alone in the race.
One competitor is Jeff Williams, the Chief Operating Officer of Apple, who is sometimes referred to as "Tim Cook's Tim Cook." He has a similar leadership style and has contributed significantly to important initiatives like the creation of the Apple Watch. Williams's age of 61 raises doubts about his capacity to lead the company in the long run, despite his impressive resume. This is in line with the board's desire for a leader who can replicate the enduring legacies of Jobs and Cook.
Other contenders include Deirdre O'Brien, a well-liked retail personality, and Craig Federighi, a well-known software engineer who is well-liked inside the organisation. But, again the board may view their age negatively, making them appear less likely candidates for the CEO post.
Beyond these three, Phil Schiller and Dan Riccio were almost in the race, but they are viewed as unlikely candidates because of their advancing tenures with Apple. Even though each candidate has a lot of experience, the board might lean toward a candidate who can lead the business into a new phase of innovation and expansion.
Conclusion
With Apple considering its next step in leadership, attention is focused on Ternus and Williams, two seasoned executives who are well-positioned to continue Tim Cook's legacy. The tech giant is entering a critical phase with the appointment of a new CEO, who will have to maintain Apple's innovative spirit in a rapidly changing environment. One thing is for sure, though: Apple's future depends on the vision and guidance of its next CEO. This applies to both candidates for the position.
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