Tim Cook Sends Love to Apple Community As He Shares Final Message on His Last Day as CEO

Tim Cook's 15-year tenure as Apple's chief executive has officially come to an end, with the outgoing leader reflecting on his time at the helm and expressing deep appreciation for the company. As he steps down from the role, Cook shared a final farewell message with employees, noting that he will miss the role of chief executive officer but has "enormous comfort" in the leadership of his replacement, John Ternus.

Transition of Power to John Ternus

Effective September 1, John Ternus officially assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer. Ternus, who previously served as Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, takes over the top spot as the company prepares for its next growth chapter and product cycles, reports Bloomberg. John Ternus to Take Over as Apple CEO on September 1; Tim Cook Will Be Executive Chairman of Board.

Sending Lots of Love to the Apple Community on My Last Day as CEO

Cook expressed total confidence in his successor, praising his engineering background and capability to guide the company forward. Following the transition, Cook will move into a new role as executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors, where he is expected to remain involved with specific areas of the business, including global regulatory and stakeholder relations.

A Historic 15-Year Legacy

Taking over the top executive position in 2011 following Steve Jobs, Cook guided Apple through a period of unprecedented expansion, transforming the company into a dominant multi-trillion-dollar enterprise. During his leadership, Apple significantly broadened its hardware and service ecosystem, introducing major product lines like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro while scaling up digital services such as Apple Music and Apple TV. Tim Cook’s Apple Era Ends September 1 After 28x Stock Surge and Record Growth.

In his parting memo, Cook emphasized the deep bond he shares with the team, stating, “Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone". Meanwhile, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tim Cook said that his title changes tomorrow but his love for the Apple community will never change. "Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO," he wrote.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 31, 2026 11:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).