Overview

• Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that hardware chief John Ternus has become Apple’s top internal contender for CEO, with responsibilities expanding into product roadmaps and strategy.
• Apple has raised Ternus’s public profile, including introducing the iPhone Air and appearing at the Regent Street store for the iPhone 17 launch.
• COO Jeff Williams relinquished operations duties in July and is preparing to retire by year‑end, removing a once‑presumed successor from consideration.
• Tim Cook, who turns 65 next month, has not signaled retirement; reporting indicates he could remain involved, possibly as board chairman, when he eventually steps aside.
• AI leadership remains unsettled as John Giannandrea’s status is in question, Apple has explored external hires from Meta, and other veterans such as Johny Srouji and Lisa Jackson have weighed retirement, with potential internal successors named for key chip roles.