Tim Cook’s reign is coming to an end, Apple has three candidates to replace him in 2026

The majority of Apple’s senior executives are now over 60 and the Californian company is facing a wave of retirements. So for such an important company in the world, we must anticipate these changes of direction in terms of strategy. It is especially the position of general manager that requires careful preparation given its importance for the future direction of the Cupertino company.

Here’s who could replace Tim Cook at Apple

According to the Financial TimesApple will avoid any communication before the publication of its financial results in January 2026. We therefore expect a declaration early next year, before major annual events like WWDC and the future iPhone 18.

As a reminder, Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, recently left the company. Last July, to be exact. Sabih Khan has now taken over this position while Jeff Williams remained with the company until November for a smoother transition.

Three candidates emerge to replace Tim Cook:

• John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, is the favorite. For the management of the Californian company, it is the youngest option compared to the other candidates.
• Craig Federighi is also a serious contender for the position of CEO of Apple. His career is very long and his face is associated with the software efforts of the Cupertino company. His mastery during presentations and his positive image in the community work in his favor.
• Greg Joswiak is the third candidate and current senior vice president of global marketing. We are still talking about 30 years of seniority which gives him an overall vision of the company. The man is associated with the Pro versions of iPhones and has both deep experience and understanding of Apple’s ecosystem. However, his profile is less technical compared to John Ternus and Craig Federighi who work on both hardware and software.

The departure of Tim Cook will be an important moment for the future of Apple after fifteen years of presidency. Apple must now face many challenges including its delay in the AI ​​market.