After the completion of the CEO transition, John Ternus, who has long been in charge of hardware engineering, officially took over the company's operations. For this technology company with one of the highest market values in the world, this leadership change occurred on the eve of the release of the new generation of iPhone and also at a critical stage of Apple's advancement of Siri AI upgrades.

In his letter of resignation to employees, Cook stated that Ternus has the ability to lead Apple in continuing to create important products. Cook will continue to stay at Apple and serve as Executive Chairman thereafter.

25 years of experience working at Apple

Ternus, who is 51 years old this year, has been working at Apple for 25 years. In 2001, he joined Apple's product design team, having only prior experience working at a virtual reality device company. In 2013, he was promoted to Vice President of Hardware Engineering, and in 2021, he was further promoted to Senior Vice President.

Within Apple's senior management, Ternus has always been regarded as a relatively young potential successor. He previously reported directly to Cook and was responsible for Apple's overall hardware engineering business for a long time, including development work related to core product lines such as iPhone and Mac.

Led the development of multiple hardware products

In his early years, he was involved in projects that included the component auditing for Apple Cinema Display. Later on, he gradually took on more extensive hardware development responsibilities and played a role in promoting the launch of products such as AirPods, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.

In addition to hardware products, he has also been involved in several important technological transitions at Apple, including the shift from Intel chips to self-developed Apple sil token issuance. Reports also mention that he recently participated in the development of MacBook Neo, a lower-cost laptop that controls costs through hardware design choices.

The handover point is close to AI and the release of new products.

The first important window period after the Ternus took office is approaching. Apple will hold a iPhone new product launch event next week, followed by the release of an upgraded Siri experience. According to reports, this version will be supported by the Gemini of Google.

This means that Ternus not only has to continue Apple's product rhythm in hardware, but also has to face the pressure of catching up with competitors in the field of AI. At the same time, the subsequent technical roadmap and product positioning of Vision Pro will also become one of the issues that need to be addressed during their tenure.

Public records show that Ternus graduated from the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. During his student days, he participated in designing assistive devices for quadriplegic patients that could be controlled through head movements. Apart from a few public speeches and interviews, he has remained relatively low-profile in the public eye in the past.