Tim Cook Expected To Remain Apples CEO Through 2026: Report

The rumour about Tim Cook stepping down as CEO of Apple has long been circulating all around the internet. However, a recent report suggests that Tim Cook may not go anywhere till 2026. But if you were expecting a new CEO to take the stage at WWDC 2025 or before the next iPhone launch, that’s not happening. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, Tim Cook isn’t leaving anytime soon, and the timeline being circulated is far from accurate. Also Read: Black Friday Deal Alert: iPhone Air Gets A Rs 11,000 Price Cut On Croma

A Financial Times report suggested that Apple might announce Cook’s exit early next year, somewhere between the January earnings call and WWDC 2025. The idea was that an early announcement would give Apple’s next CEO enough time to warm up before the company’s biggest annual events. But now it seems that the report jumped the gun. Also Read: Spotify Adds Built-In Tool To Bring Playlists From Apple Music, YouTube Music, More: Here's How

Tim Cook To Remain CEO Till 2026?

The latest report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has dismissed the early-exit timeline. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that Apple is preparing for a transition soon. Long story short, Tim Cook is still in charge of Apple, and likely will be until at least 2026. Also Read: Apple Black Friday Sale 2025: iPhone 13 To iPhone 17 Pro Max - Best iPhone Deals You Shouldn’t Miss

Gurman even called the original FT report “simply false.” At 65, Cook remains one of Silicon Valley’s longest-serving CEOs, and under him, Apple’s market value has grown from around $350 billion in 2011 to over $4 trillion today. Naturally, the company isn’t in a rush to push him out.

Who replaces Tim Cook when the time does come?

While there’s no immediate transition happening, one name keeps coming up – John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Ternus is reportedly seen inside Apple as the strongest successor when Cook eventually retires. He is considered to be the youngest member of Apple’s executive team, oversees Apple’s hardware roadmap, and is highly regarded by Cook and former COO Jeff Williams. 

Even if Cook steps down as CEO someday, he is expected to remain associated with the company, likely as Chairman. 

However, nothing is confirmed so far, and the official statement about the stepping down of Tim Cook or any other appointment of a new CEO will be made by Apple itself in the future. Till then, everything is just a rumour.