Is John Ternus Apple's next CEO? Uncertainty looms
What's the story
Apple's current head of hardware engineering, John Ternus, is the front-runner to succeed Tim Cook as CEO. However, The Information reports that some former Apple executives are hoping for a "dark-horse" candidate to emerge. The report suggests that Ternus is more likely to take over than other internal candidates such as software chief Craig Federighi, Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan, or marketing head Greg Joswiak.
Career trajectory
Ternus's journey and leadership style at Apple
Ternus, who has been with Apple since 2001, is known for his reliability and attention to detail. His colleagues describe him as calm, emotionally intelligent, logical, and conservative. He has earned Cook's trust by leading successful projects such as the transition of Mac to Apple silicon and taking the blame for Apple's butterfly keyboard internally.
Criticisms
Concerns and criticisms surrounding Ternus's potential CEO role
Despite his strengths, some voices within Apple believe that Ternus may not be ready for the CEO role. These skeptics say he is too risk-averse, which has led to frustrations within his group. For instance, some members of Apple's hardware engineering department were disappointed when Ternus refused funding for more ambitious projects.
Software chief
Federighi's potential as Apple's next CEO
While Craig Federighi is a strong candidate due to his high profile, there are concerns about his software-centric focus. He prefers technical challenges over broader issues that come with the CEO role. Federighi has also been critical of Apple's spending on Vision Pro and its now-canceled self-driving car project. He was initially skeptical about AI too, calling it overhyped and unpredictable.
Dark horse
Former Apple hardware executive's potential candidacy
Cook has publicly stated that he wants his successor to be an internal candidate, but a former employee could also be considered. One such person is Tony Fadell, a former Apple hardware executive who co-created the iPod. Fadell recently expressed his willingness to take over Cook's role as CEO. However, some within Apple think this possibility is "unlikely," given Fadell's polarizing presence during his tenure at the company.
Retirement signs
Signs of Cook's potential retirement and future leadership changes
Despite the speculation, Cook is widely expected to retire in the near future. Some analysts believe he hasn't acted quickly enough to counter AI competition from Meta and Google. Recently, signs have emerged indicating that Cook may be preparing for retirement. He has reportedly stopped his early morning gym routine and a slight tremor in his hands has been observed by those around him.