Overview
- The Financial Times reports Apple’s board and senior leaders have recently intensified preparations for a leadership handover, with Tim Cook weighing a departure as soon as next year.
- Hardware engineering chief John Ternus is widely viewed inside Apple as the leading internal candidate to succeed Cook, though no final decision has been made.
- People familiar with the talks say Apple is unlikely to name a successor before its late‑January earnings report, and the timing of any announcement remains fluid.
- Sources characterize the transition as long‑planned rather than performance‑driven, with expectations for a strong holiday iPhone quarter.
- Apple has not commented on the reports; the succession focus follows COO Jeff Williams’ retirement and a CFO transition this year, while some journalists question that an announcement is imminent.