Tim Cook is not stepping down as Apple CEO anytime soon. Despite a recent report from the Financial Times claiming Cook may exit between January and June 2026, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has called the timeline premature and inaccurate.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said he would be “shocked” if Cook leaves by mid-2026. He noted that there are currently no internal signs suggesting a leadership transition is about to happen. Cook, who turned 65 this month, remains actively involved in Apple’s product roadmap, including its upcoming AI push.
Gurman confirmed that Apple has been planning for Cook’s eventual departure. John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, remains the top internal candidate to succeed Cook. Ternus leads development for iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro and has taken on more responsibilities in recent months.
The Financial Times report claimed that Apple could announce Cook’s exit plan before WWDC 2026 to ensure a smooth handoff. Gurman disagreed, stating that the story did not come from sources with direct knowledge and was not part of any internal communication strategy. He also dismissed theories that the story was a deliberate leak to test public reaction.
Gurman also said that given Apple’s tremendous success under Cook, he has earned the right to decide his own future. After stepping down, Cook is expected to remain as Chairman of the board, allowing him to influence Apple’s direction for years to come.
Cook has led Apple since 2011, following the death of Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple became the first $3 trillion company and launched major products including the Apple Watch, AirPods, M-series Macs, and Vision Pro.
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