Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO after 15 years, handing the reins to John Ternus while remaining executive chairman. Cook, who took over from Steve Jobs in 2011, oversaw Apple's remarkable growth from a successful company to a 21st-century tech giant, with its value increasing by approximately $3.3 trillion.
Cook's leadership began with him stepping in for Jobs in 2009 during a medical leave. As COO, he managed Apple's global supply chain and operations. Upon officially becoming CEO, Cook assured employees that Apple's core values and innovation would remain intact, stating, "Steve [Jobs] built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world, and we are going to stay true to that - it is in our DNA."
His tenure saw the launch of the iPhone 4s, which integrated Siri and iCloud, laying the groundwork for future innovations. Cook also navigated early controversies regarding labor practices in China, publicly committing to upholding worker rights and opening supply chains to independent evaluation. Apple's market valuation soared, surpassing $600 billion by April 2012.
Central to Cook's strategy was the development of the Apple ecosystem, enabling seamless integration between devices and services. Key developments included continuity features like Handoff and AirDrop, introduced in 2014, allowing users to transition tasks between MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads. The launch of Apple Pay, the Apple Watch, Apple Music, and AirPods further solidified this interconnected approach, transforming devices into extensions of one another.
Under Cook's leadership, Apple achieved significant financial milestones, becoming the world's first trillion-dollar company in August 2018. By April 21st of an unspecified year, its valuation reached approximately $4.01 trillion, and it became the third company to hit the $4 trillion mark in October 2025. Cook also guided Apple into the AI era with the 2024 launch of Apple Intelligence, integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT. Despite criticism for a slower rollout than competitors, analysts noted Apple's strategic "wait-and-see" approach to AI.
Cook also demonstrated adept political diplomacy, successfully persuading President Donald Trump to exempt Apple products from tariffs and promising significant investment in the U.S. during Trump's second administration.