"(Senior Vice President John Ternus) is the person who understands the future of products best." (Current Apple CEO Tim Cook)
John Ternus (51), Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, will lead the company as its new chief executive officer (CEO) starting in September. He follows Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder who invented the most popular consumer goods in history, and CEO Tim Cook, who generated massive revenue with the iPhone and made Apple the most valuable company in the world. Experts say Apple's decision to tap Ternus as the next leader is tantamount to declaring that Apple will return to being a technology-centric company through innovation reminiscent of the Jobs era rather than stability.
Dipanjan Chatterjee, a principal analyst at Forrester, said of Senior Vice President Ternus, "As a hardware engineering alum, it suggests that (Apple) will seek differentiation in physical products even as it redefines products as foundational platforms for intelligent experiences."
◇ He has a handle on every Apple product… "From AirPods, Mac, iPad, and iPhone to Vision Pro"
Ternus has worked at Apple for 25 years. He majored in mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and is said to have designed a robotic arm that quadriplegic patients can operate with head movements for his capstone project. Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems (VRS). Virtual Research Systems was a company that led the early Virtual Reality (VR) boom in the 1980s and 1990s, developing VR headsets and immersive technologies. The experience at Virtual Research Systems exposed Ternus to cutting-edge display technologies and VR interfaces, which later became an asset for developing products like Apple Vision Pro.
He joined Apple's product design team in 2001. At the time, Steve Jobs had returned to the company, the iMac had revived the company, and Apple was preparing to launch products that would redefine the entire industry. As a relatively new member of the product design team, Ternus initially worked on developing external monitors for Mac. He was later promoted to vice president of hardware engineering in 2013, overseeing development of AirPods, Mac, and iPad. In 2020, his remit expanded to include iPhone hardware engineering, which had been handled directly by Senior Vice President Dan Riccio, who led the hardware institutional sector. When Riccio resigned in Jan. 2021 to focus on the Apple Vision Pro project, Ternus was elevated to Apple's executive team as senior vice president of hardware engineering.
Ternus' strength is that he understands Apple's core. He has overseen hardware engineering for nearly all of Apple's major products. Every generation of iPad, the latest iPhones, and AirPods bear his touch. Ternus also played a key role as Apple shifted from relying on external chipmakers like Intel and Qualcomm to producing its own chips under the name "Apple silicon" and integrating them into products. He has led innovative products such as Apple Vision Pro. At a recent Apple keynote, he introduced the new iPhone Air. In a press release, Apple noted that his team was essential to developing the new MacBook Neo and the iPhone 17 series.
Ternus is known to have taken on responsibilities that go beyond product launches and the traditional scope of hardware engineering. Mark Gurman, Bloomberg's Apple expert, said, "Ternus is a charismatic figure respected by Apple loyalists, and with Cook's trust he has emerged as a key decision-maker on product road maps, features, and strategy, expanding his influence beyond the bounds of a traditional hardware engineering chief."
◇ "Pressure to notch early wins in AI"
Ternus' promotion is no surprise. Over the past year, he has been mentioned as a strong CEO candidate. In particular, when Apple's chief operating officer (COO) Jeff Williams stepped back from operational duties in Jul. last year, Ternus was viewed as Cook's most likely successor. Ternus now faces the task of proving how Apple will achieve next-generation innovation amid a rapidly changing AI landscape.
Fortune said of Ternus' promotion that it "suggests that Apple is shifting to prioritize technological innovation over operational efficiency to reinvigorate product lines beyond the iPhone, which accounts for most of its sales," adding, "The challenges with Apple Vision Pro and efforts to bolster competitiveness in AI show that strong technological leadership may be urgently needed for Apple's next leap." Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said, "Ternus, in particular, will be under significant pressure to achieve success early on in AI."
◇ Leadership following Jobs and Cook… "Brimming with charisma"
At 51, Ternus is the same age Tim Cook was when he became CEO in 2011. That suggests he, too, could maintain leadership for more than a decade. Observers say such leadership likely appealed to Apple's board, which prefers stable management. Ternus is six years younger than Craig Federighi, the software senior vice president considered a rival. Apple's choice of Ternus as the next leader also reflects its preference for internal promotions over outside hires.
The industry is watching to see how Ternus will chart Apple's future. If founder Jobs was a figure who took risks with distinctive charisma and innovation, CEO Cook pursued stability and found success in service areas built on existing products, such as Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple TV+.
Ternus is said to be persistent and driven. According to a 1994 report by the Daily Pennsylvanian, he not only focused on academics as a mechanical engineering student but also stood out as a swimmer. He won both the 50-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley at collegiate meets, showcasing outstanding athletic ability. Notably, he was the team's "Letter Winner of the Year," holding the record for the most appearances in the history of the University of Pennsylvania men's swim team.
Bloomberg described Ternus as "the youngest member of Apple's executive ranks and charismatic and popular inside the company." Tony Blevins, Apple's former head of procurement who worked closely with Ternus, called him "a very meticulous engineer and a wise manager," adding that "(his selection as Cook's successor) was an excellent and obvious choice."