In a shock announcement John Ternus, a mechanical engineer is set to succeed Tim Cook who is set to become Chairman at the world’s most successful tech Company.

The company said Ternus, 50, will assume the CEO position on September 1.

A mechanical engineer by training, Ternus currently leads Apple’s hardware engineering division, a role he has held since 2021. He has spent 25 years at the company, focusing on product development across key product lines including the iPhone, iPad, Mac and AirPods.

The announcement was met positively by investors, with Apple shares rising about 1% following the news.

Ternus had been widely viewed by insiders as a leading candidate to replace Cook.

As part of the transition, Ternus’s current division will be taken over by his longtime deputy, Tom Marieb.

Ternus becomes the third CEO in Apple’s modern era, following Steve Jobs and Tim Cook (seen above).

Jobs led the company through the creation of the iPhone, widely regarded as one of the most successful consumer products in history. Cook, who succeeded Jobs in 2011, is credited with expanding the iPhone’s global reach and strengthening Apple’s supply chain, helping the company become the world’s most valuable publicly traded firm, according to Bloomberg.

During his tenure, Ternus has played a central role in Apple’s hardware strategy, including overseeing the transition from Intel processors to Apple-designed silicon in Mac computers. Introduced in 2020, the shift improved energy efficiency and contributed to a resurgence in Mac sales.

Internally, Ternus is known for his engineering expertise and collaborative management style, which aligns more closely with Cook’s approach than the more confrontational leadership style associated with Jobs and some of his contemporaries.

Despite Apple’s continued financial strength, questions remain about its pace of innovation.

While products such as AirPods and the Apple Watch have become significant businesses, they have not matched the scale of the iPhone. More recent initiatives have had mixed results: the Vision Pro headset has struggled to gain traction, and the company abandoned its long-running self-driving car project after investing billions of dollars.

Analysts say a key challenge for Ternus will be reinvigorating Apple’s product pipeline and delivering breakthrough innovations.

Cook, meanwhile, is expected to be remembered for his operational leadership and diplomatic engagement with global political leaders, navigating the company through regulatory pressures and geopolitical tensions while maintaining its growth trajectory.