Apple's Quiet Design Division Shift Positions John Ternus as CEO Frontrunner
In a significant but unannounced organizational change, Apple has transferred oversight of its legendary design division to hardware engineering chief John Ternus, according to a Bloomberg report. This strategic move positions Ternus as the clear frontrunner to succeed Tim Cook as Apple's next chief executive officer.
Behind-the-Scenes Leadership Transition
Tim Cook implemented this change at the end of 2025, though Apple has deliberately avoided making any official announcement or updating organizational charts to reflect the shift. The company appears cautious about fueling speculation regarding Cook's eventual departure timeline.
John Ternus now serves as the executive sponsor for all design work at Apple, representing the design team in executive meetings and facilitating communication between designers and Apple's top leadership. This role carries substantial weight within Apple's corporate structure, as the design teams have historically reported only to the company's most powerful executives.
Historically, Apple's design leadership has followed a prestigious lineage:
- Jony Ive until 2019
- Tim Cook himself from 2015-2017
- Former COO Jeff Williams from 2019 until his retirement last year
Cook's Succession Planning Accelerates
The design division transfer represents part of broader succession planning as the 65-year-old Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, prepares for an eventual leadership transition. According to The New York Times, Cook has privately informed senior leaders that he's looking to reduce his workload, with expectations that he would become board chairman upon stepping down as CEO.
John Ternus checks several important boxes for the top position at Apple. At 50 years old, he's the same age Cook was when he replaced Steve Jobs as CEO. Ternus shares Cook's reputation for operational precision and possesses deep supply chain expertise that has become increasingly valuable to Apple's global operations.
Ternus's Rising Profile Within Apple
Apple has been steadily elevating Ternus's visibility and responsibilities in recent years:
- He introduced the iPhone Air to the market
- He led the critical transition from Intel chips to Apple's own processors
- He recently greeted customers at the iPhone 17 launch event in London—a role typically filled by Cook himself
Internal Debates About Apple's Future Leadership
Not everyone within Apple is convinced Ternus represents the ideal choice for CEO. While respected for his engineering capabilities and even temperament, some view him more as a product maintainer than an innovator.
A former Apple employee told The New York Times: "If you want to make an iPhone every year, Ternus is your guy." This comment hints at concerns about whether Ternus possesses the visionary qualities needed to drive breakthrough products rather than simply maintaining existing product lines.
Collaborative Decision-Making Continues
Despite Ternus's new role overseeing design, Apple maintains its collaborative approach to product development. Software chief Craig Federighi and marketing head Greg Joswiak continue to weigh in significantly on the company's strategic direction and design decisions.
The quiet nature of this leadership transition reflects Apple's characteristic discretion regarding internal changes, particularly those related to succession planning for one of the world's most influential technology companies.
