On September 1, John Ternus EAS’97 will become Apple’s next CEO, succeeding Tim Cook, who will transition into the role of executive chairman of the tech giant’s board of directors after a 15-year run as CEO.
Ternus joined Apple’s product design team in 2001, becoming a vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and a senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021. According to an Apple news release in April, Ternus has been instrumental in the introduction of multiple new product lines, including iPad and AirPods, as well as many generations of products across iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. He also helped lead the company’s efforts in making Apple products more resilient and in reducing the carbon footprint of its products. By 2030, Apple plans to be carbon neutral across its entire supply chain and every device sold.
“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” Cook said in a statement. “He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
A former varsity swimmer at Penn, Ternus returned to his alma mater to deliver the keynote address at Penn Engineering’s 2024 graduation ceremony at the Palestra. In that speech, he recalled feeling intimidated when he first arrived at Apple—just his second job out of college—but rose through the ranks by learning from others. “Always assume you’re as smart as anyone else in the room. But never assume that you know as much as they do,” he told the graduates. “With this mindset, you’ll find the confidence you need to push forward but, more importantly, the humility to ask questions and learn.”
In a LinkedIn post, Vijay Kumar, the Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering, noted that he worked with Ternus on his senior project when he and team members designed and built a passive, head-controlled feeding aid for quadriplegics. “John’s journey from Penn Engineering to leading one of the world’s most influential technology companies is a powerful reflection of the kind of leadership, curiosity, and technical excellence we strive to cultivate in our students,” wrote Kumar, who has been on Penn’s faculty since 1987. “I have no doubt he will continue to shape the future in meaningful and responsible ways.” —DZ
