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John Ternus
John Ternus's machine-age file: Apple hardware, iPad, AirPods, Apple silicon, and the engineer who inherited the company as AI became its next giant test.
Ternus spent a quarter century inside Apple’s hardware machine before taking the top job: product design, hardware engineering, iPad, AirPods, iPhone and Apple silicon, then the CEO chair as the company confronted an AI transition much less tidy than its previous ones.
HOW THE HELL DID JOHN TERNUS GET HERE?
2001
HE JOINS APPLE PRODUCT DESIGN
Ternus joined Apple’s Product Design team in 2001, beginning a long run inside the hardware organization rather than arriving as an outside executive.
RECEIPTS: Applefirst-party
2013
HE BECOMES A HARDWARE ENGINEERING VICE PRESIDENT
Apple says Ternus became a vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013 as his responsibility widened across major product lines.
RECEIPTS: Applefirst-party
2016
THE FIRST AIRPODS PASS THROUGH HIS HARDWARE ORG
Apple later credited Ternus with overseeing hardware engineering for the first generation of AirPods as well as every generation of iPad.
RECEIPTS: Applefirst-party
Jan 25, 2021
HE JOINS APPLE'S EXECUTIVE TEAM
Apple promoted Ternus to senior vice president of Hardware Engineering and cited his leadership of the iPhone 12 hardware effort and the Mac transition to Apple silicon.
RECEIPTS: Applefirst-party
Sep 1, 2026
THE HARDWARE ENGINEER GETS THE WHOLE COMPANY
John Ternus became Apple chief executive on September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook while Cook moved to executive chairman.
RECEIPTS: Applefirst-party