Apple is entering a new era. On August 31, 2026, Tim Cook officially stepped down as CEO, ending a 15-year tenure that transformed the company into the world’s most valuable technology enterprise. Starting tomorrow, John Ternus, previously Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will take the helm. To mark the occasion, Cook sent a deeply personal memo to Apple employees, reflecting on his journey, thanking the team, and expressing full confidence in his successor.
The memo, shared with staff this morning, is a rare glimpse into the emotional side of a leader known for his calm, measured public persona. Cook wrote that he always knew this day would come, yet still found it hard to believe it had arrived. He described his time as CEO as “the privilege of a lifetime” and made clear that whatever success he had achieved was due to the people around him.
Below is the complete text of Tim Cook’s memo to Apple employees:
The Full Memo
Team,
Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.
There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.
As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.
I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.
I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.
With all I have and all I am, I am always
Yours,
Tim
Cook’s Leadership Legacy
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998 as senior vice president of Worldwide Operations, tasked with fixing Apple’s chaotic supply chain. His operational genius helped reshape the company’s manufacturing and logistics, laying the groundwork for the iPod and later the iPhone to become global phenomena. In 2005, he was promoted to chief operating officer, and in 2007, he effectively ran the company while Steve Jobs battled health issues.
When Cook became CEO in August 2011, just six weeks before Jobs passed away, many questioned whether anyone could fill Jobs’s shoes. Cook did not try to imitate his predecessor. Instead, he forged his own path, one defined by collaboration, social responsibility, and disciplined execution.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple released the Apple Watch, which became the best-selling smartwatch in the world, and the AirPods, which redefined the wireless audio market. He oversaw the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon, beginning with the M1 chip in 2020, a move that gave Apple’s Mac lineup industry-leading performance and battery life. He also expanded Apple’s services business, which now generates more than $90 billion in annual revenue—a figure larger than the total revenue of many Fortune 500 companies.
During his tenure, Apple’s market capitalization grew from about $350 billion to more than $3 trillion, making Apple the first company in history to reach that milestone. He also championed privacy as a fundamental human right, fought for environmental sustainability, and pushed Apple into health research with features like ECG and fall detection on the Apple Watch. His record is not just one of financial success, but of institutional transformation.
Who Is John Ternus?
John Ternus, the man set to succeed Cook, is no stranger to Apple’s inner workings. He joined the company in 2001 as a product design engineer and quickly rose through the ranks. In 2013, he became vice president of Hardware Engineering, and in 2020, he was elevated to senior vice president, reporting directly to Cook.
Ternus was the driving force behind Apple’s transition to M-series chips, a strategic shift that took years of careful planning and coordination across hardware, software, and manufacturing teams. He also led development of the modern Face ID system, the redesigned MacBook Pro and iMac, and more recently, the Vision Pro headset. Known for his quiet, understated style, Ternus is considered an engineering-first leader who values deep collaboration and long-term thinking.
Cook has often praised Ternus as one of the most talented executives he has worked with. In the memo, he wrote that “few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does,” and that he could not be more excited for John’s leadership. Apple’s board of directors echoed that sentiment when they unanimously selected Ternus as Cook’s successor, citing his deep understanding of Apple’s culture and commitment to innovation.
A New Role for Tim Cook
While Cook is stepping down as CEO, he is not leaving Apple. In his memo, he said he looks forward to “seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.” Reports indicate Cook will remain active with the company, likely serving as executive chairman of the board, a position that allows him to offer strategic guidance and represent Apple on the global stage without being involved in day-to-day operations.
This transition mirrors the path taken by other legendary tech leaders, but Cook’s situation is unique in that he remains fully embedded in the company he built. Employees can still expect to see him at Apple Park, in product review meetings, and at major events. His continued presence offers a sense of stability during a time of leadership change.
Reaction From the Apple Community
Beyond the internal memo, Cook also took to social media to address the broader Apple community. In a post on his personal account, he wrote:
“Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO. My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration. My gratitude is endless, and I’m excited for the next chapter!”
The post quickly attracted responses from Apple users, developers, and other industry figures, many of whom shared stories of how Cook’s leadership affected them personally. For many, Cook has been the steady hand who guided Apple through challenges ranging from pandemics to supply chain crises, always with a focus on long-term values rather than short-term gains.
Cook’s farewell is a moment of reflection not just for Apple, but for the entire technology industry. He took a company founded by a visionary, sustained it through the death of that visionary, and made it more robust, more diverse, and more essential than ever. As he hands the baton to John Ternus, Apple’s story continues, but it will always be marked by the decade and a half in which Tim Cook was at the helm.
The memo, his social media post, and the quiet confidence of the transition all point to a leader who leaves with gratitude and a clear conscience. And for Apple employees, the message is simple: the culture that Steve Jobs built and Tim Cook nurtured will live on, under new leadership, with the same mission to leave the world better than we found it.
Source: 9to5Mac News