Apple may be heading toward one of its biggest leadership shake-ups in over a decade.
According to a new report from the Financial Times, Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO as early as next year, with the board now actively shaping a succession plan. And while Apple’s upcoming hardware roadmap has dominated headlines, this shift at the top could be the real story of 2026.
The report suggests John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice-president of hardware engineering, is currently the frontrunner. Ternus has been a central figure behind recent iPhone, iPad, and Mac hardware decisions, and his growing visibility within the company has long made him one of the most likely internal candidates.
Cook, now 65, has spent 14 years in the role — a period marked by massive growth, a sweeping expansion of Apple’s supply chain, and some major controversies along the way. His handling of Apple’s shift toward outsourced manufacturing is widely credited for helping the company scale to the size it operates at today.
Talk of Cook’s potential exit comes just after another major change: the retirement of COO Jeff Williams, whose departure triggered a wider reshuffle at the executive level. Services chief Eddy Cue, software engineering head Craig Federighi, and Ternus have all taken on expanded responsibilities as the company rebalances leadership across its divisions.
Whoever eventually steps in is almost certain to come from inside Apple. Cook has reiterated Apple’s longstanding preference for internal succession, saying the company maintains “very detailed succession plans” to ensure stability when transitions happen.
If the FT report holds, 2026 won’t just be another big product year for Apple — it could mark the end of the Cook era and the start of a new chapter shaped by the people who have been quietly steering Apple’s hardware and software for years.
