John Ternus becomes the new Apple boss. But who is the man who has been roaming the Apple universe for 25 years? We activate the iPhone flashlight and point the camera at his education, career and future.
He is still officially listed as Senior Vice President for Hardware Development. But John Ternus’s personality will change significantly at Apple on September 1, 2026. He knows the company and its products well because Ternus has been with Apple for 25 years. But the new role is more than just an internal company romance – it has clear challenges.
John Ternus becomes Apple’s chief executive officer
It’s not entirely surprising that John Ternus will take over as CEO at Apple. The rumor cauldron was already bubbling a lot. But an era is definitely ending – or at least being shifted, as Tim Cook continues as Apple’s CEO.
But this isn’t about Cook. We take a closer look at the life of John Ternus – especially in a professional context. What did the tech specialist do before Apple, how long has he been living on apples and what challenges await him in Cupertino in the future?
From VR developer to Apple engineer: Who is John Ternus?
John Ternus studied engineering and mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He then worked at Virtual Research Systems in the VR sector and worked on headsets. Ternus was and is a product person – that should make Apple fans happy.
His final project at university was a mechanical aid for paraplegics that is controlled by head movements. Technically sophisticated and with precise benefits – something that Apple products also stand for.
He doesn’t embody the dazzling boss and isn’t the loudest leader. But he is considered a reliable and disciplined top manager. John Ternus is a doer from the inner circle who is very familiar with Apple devices because he was involved in development for years – and helped shape billions in sales.
His career at Apple
John Ternus is now 50 years old. He has been employed at Apple since 2001. Somehow everything seems like something out of a career picture book: a big birthday, 25 years with the company – perhaps the perfect time to take the most important career step.
The Cinema Display was Ternus’ first Apple project. In 2013, he was promoted to Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Since then, at the latest, all products have passed through his mind and hands. As Apple breaks away from Intel and designs its own chips, Ternus is a crucial factor.
In 2021, John Ternus will take on the role he currently holds. Recently, he has appeared more and more frequently as a presenter at Apple events – for example, to introduce the iPhone Air. Many people interpreted these appearances in particular as a clear signal for Cook’s successor.
The fact that he is familiar with production processes beyond development was certainly a key factor in the decision to appoint him as the next CEO. His many trips to manufacturing partners in Asia could pay off – after all, Cook has perfected the operational business with his supply chain focus.
China, AI and Trump: What problems does Ternus have to solve?
Asia and the supply chain are good keywords. Because Apple has developed a production-related dependency on China – most iPhones are made by Foxconn. Patrick McGee of the New York Times told the ARDthat there is “no place in the world [gebe]“Where Apple could produce this quality, this quantity and this price – except in China.”
If the US government imposes new tariffs on China, Apple will have to make important decisions – specifically, John Ternus. In general, the question arises about how to deal with the government and specifically with US President Donald Trump. A gesture by Cook was recently heavily criticized. What position will Ternus take here?
Artificial intelligence is another topic that brings with it numerous changes to which Apple also has to react. So far, the company has been rather cautious when it comes to AI – and not very competitive. A “good” example is Siri. Overall, there is still a lot of catching up to do with Apple Intelligence.
Cook calls Ternus a “visionary whose contributions to Apple over the last 25 years are already innumerable.” He has “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator and the heart to lead with integrity and honor.” Starting in September, it will be up to the new Apple CEO to prove exactly that.
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