Apple's Next Chapter: Can the Hardware Master Match Steve Jobs' Innovation Legacy?

After 14 years at the helm of Apple, Tim Cook finds himself at a crossroads. Now 65, the CEO recently disclosed to top executives that despite maintaining his usual vigor and adapting well to international travel, the relentless demands of leading the tech giant have taken their toll. According to The New York Times, Cook is actively seeking ways to lighten his workload—a signal that Apple’s succession planning, which kicked into high gear last year, may soon reach a critical juncture.

Ternus: The Frontrunner with Impressive Credentials

Among the internal pool of potential successors, John Ternus has emerged as the standout candidate. At 50, Ternus mirrors Cook’s age when the latter assumed control following Steve Jobs’ departure. Their parallels are striking: both possess a meticulous attention to detail, command extensive knowledge of Apple’s sprawling supply chain, maintain measured temperaments, excel at fostering collaboration, and navigate the company’s intricate organizational landscape with ease.

Ternus’s trajectory at Apple spans over two decades of deep technical expertise. Joining in 2001, he initially contributed to Mac display engineering, then ascended to lead iMac hardware development by 2005. By 2013, his purview expanded to encompass both Mac and iPad product lines. His strategic decisions include championing LiDAR integration in the iPhone Pro lineup to balance cutting-edge features with manufacturing costs, orchestrating the lightweight design initiative for the iPhone Air, and spearheading Apple’s transition from Intel processors to proprietary silicon chips. Beyond boardroom decisions, Ternus has personally invested considerable time in Asia, working directly with manufacturers to deepen his understanding of global supply chain intricacies.

The Debate: Innovator or Custodian?

Yet Ternus’s potential ascension raises pertinent questions within industry circles. Should he become CEO, he would represent the first Apple leader in three decades with a primarily hardware engineering background. This distinction cuts both ways. While his deep technical acumen could prove invaluable, skeptics question whether his reputation as a “product maintainer” rather than a “product visionary” positions him to drive the breakthrough innovations Apple historically championed. Additionally, his exclusively engineering-focused career path means he lacks experience in policy relations and broader executive responsibilities that define modern CEO roles.

Notably, Ternus is also rumored to have participated in Apple’s classified exploration of foldable display technology—a potential game-changing category that remains largely untapped by the Cupertino giant.

A Bench Full of Alternatives

Cook isn’t placing all eggs in one basket. The company is simultaneously nurturing several other senior executives as alternative successors:

• Craig Federighi – Head of Software Engineering
• Eddy Cue – Leader of Services Business Division
• Greg Joswiak – Chief of Global Marketing
• Deirdre O’Brien – Head of Retail and Human Resources

Each brings distinct strengths and strategic perspectives to the table. The final decision will rest with Apple’s Board of Directors—a body Cook himself sits on. Post-succession, Cook is widely expected to transition into the chairman role, maintaining influence over Apple’s long-term direction.

The AI Imperative: The True Test

Perhaps most critically, whoever assumes the CEO throne will inherit an organization facing an existential challenge. While competitors like Microsoft, Google, and Meta have poured tens of billions into AI research and deployment, Apple has largely remained sidelined, deploying AI sparingly across its ecosystem. The incoming CEO must navigate this critical gap.

The measure of Apple’s next leader—whether Ternus or another candidate—will ultimately depend on their ability to orchestrate Apple’s entry into the AI revolution. In an era where artificial intelligence increasingly defines technological leadership, the successor’s vision for integrating AI into Apple’s product portfolio could determine whether the company maintains its industry dominance or cedes ground to rivals who moved faster. This challenge will prove whether the next chief executive can truly inherit the innovative spirit that Steve Jobs embedded into Apple’s DNA.