The Succession of Tim Cook (II): John Ternus, the Leading Candidate

At Xataka On, we’re going to publish a series of weekly articles on Tim Cook’s upcoming succession as CEO of Apple. This transition, expected to occur before the end of this decade, will mark a significant moment in the history of technology.

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Apple faces several significant challenges in the coming years, including:

• Continuing to grow in mature markets, such as smartphones and tablets, where prices seem to have reached a ceiling.
• Keeping pace with rivals in AI and effectively integrating it into the company’s products and services.
• Building a reputation and increasing sales in augmented reality.
• Navigating ongoing supply chain complexities, particularly reducing dependence on China.
• Addressing the rising regulatory scrutiny Apple faces globally.

As the head of hardware engineering, John Ternus is at the intersection of many of these challenges. In fact, his decisions shape the devices that millions of people use every day. This makes him a strong candidate to succeed Cook as Apple’s CEO in the near future.

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🧑🏻‍🦱 Who is John Ternus? Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and has since risen through the ranks of hardware engineering. In 2013, he eventually became VP of hardware engineering. At 49, he’s currently the youngest member of Apple’s senior leadership team.

Throughout his tenure at Apple, Ternus has played a pivotal role in the development of key products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. He also significantly contributed to the transition to Apple Silicon. He’s known for his calm demeanor and deep technical knowledge.

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📈 Ternus’ rise to the top. He has developed expertise in both broad categories and particularly complex specific products. Termus’ career highlights include:

• Original iPad (2010). He led the engineering team that brought then-CEO Steve Jobs’ vision of a tablet to life.
• iPhone 5 (2012). He oversaw the transition to a larger screen and the introduction of the Lightning connector.
• iPad mini (2012). He directed efforts to create a smaller iPad without compromising on performance.
• iMac Pro (2017). He also led the development of the most powerful Mac at that time, which became a solution during the transition between two different Mac Pro designs.
• Transition to Apple Silicon (2020). Ternus was a key driving force behind Apple’s shift to in-house designed chips for Macs.

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✅ In favor of Ternus. Arguments for his selection:

• Technical prowess. In an era characterized by the rise of AI and augmented reality, Apple needs a leader who deeply understands the hardware that drives these technologies.
• Product vision. Ternus has played a key role in shaping Apple’s hardware roadmap, providing a clear vision for future innovations.
• His age. At 49, he’s the youngest potential candidate and is likely to offer more than 15 years of tenure. Stability is highly valued in Cupertino, especially since Cook has served as CEO for 13 years so far.
• Cultural fit. Having been with Apple for more than 20 years, Ternus embodies the company’s values and design philosophy.
• Supply chain experience. His background in hardware engineering has equipped him with extensive knowledge of Apple’s complex and critical supply chain.

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❌ Against Ternus. Disadvantages to consider:

• Limited software and services expertise. Software is a core component of Apple’s ecosystem, while services have proven to be a significant growth driver in the past decade.
• Little exposure. Ternus doesn’t have a public profile as high as that of figures like Craig Federighi, who has been a prominent representative of the company for the last decade.
• Lack of financial experience. He lacks management and operational experience at the level typically required for a CEO position.

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🔭 Bottom line. Ternus represents a potential return to a leader with deep technical knowledge, reminiscent of the Jobs era, albeit with some differences. Today’s Apple has a much more diverse range of products and services, requiring a holistic approach.

Ternus possesses several qualities that make him a strong candidate to succeed Cook, including his personal attributes and extensive professional experience. His biggest challenge will be to prove that he can apply his successes in hardware leadership to broader management.

Image | Apple | Xataka

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