Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO. Here's what it means for AirPods

Apple announced today that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, ending a 15-year run that began when he replaced Steve Jobs in 2011. Cook isn’t leaving the company entirely: he’ll move into a new role as executive chairman of Apple’s board. But day-to-day control passes to John Ternus, currently Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering.

For audio fans, Ternus is an interesting choice. He joined Apple in 2001 and has spent the better part of his career overseeing hardware engineering, including AirPods, which have become one of the best-selling consumer electronics products in the world. If you’ve bought a pair of AirPods in the last several years, Ternus had a hand in them.

Cook’s tenure saw Apple become the dominant force in consumer audio almost by accident. AirPods launched in 2016 to widespread mockery and went on to define the true wireless earbud category. The acquisition of Beats brought Apple into over-ear headphones and laid the groundwork for Apple Music. The AirPods Max arrived in 2020. Under Cook, audio went from a side business to a core pillar of the Apple ecosystem.

Whether Ternus continues that trajectory or shifts priorities is the open question. His background is in hardware engineering rather than services or software, which could bode well for product-focused development — but it’s early days.

Cook will remain CEO through the summer before the transition completes on September 1.