Apple has completed its biggest leadership change in 15 years: on September 1, 2026, John Ternus took over as chief executive from Tim Cook, who had led the company since 2011. Just days later, on September 9, Apple hosts its fall event „Surprise and Shine” – the first major product stage under its new CEO.
Cook becomes executive chairman as Ternus takes the helm
Apple had already announced the transition officially through its newsroom on April 20, 2026, so the September 1 date was long set. Tim Cook moves into the newly created role of executive chairman and retains considerable influence – according to Bloomberg reporting, he continues to manage relationships with the U.S. government and China. John Ternus, 51, is a classic Apple insider: he joined the product design team in 2001 and most recently oversaw all hardware engineering as senior vice president. Arthur Levinson, previously chairman, becomes lead independent director.
„Surprise and Shine”: Ternus’ first keynote
The fall event takes place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. local time (1 p.m. ET) at Apple Park in Cupertino and will be streamed online as usual. For Ternus it marks his first keynote as CEO – a symbolic start to a new era, even if the products themselves likely still stem from Cook’s pipeline.
What to expect at the event
Apple traditionally reveals no details in advance. According to consistent reporting from MacRumors and AppleInsider, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected, along with a foldable iPhone for the first time, plus the Apple Watch Series 12 and a new Apple Watch Ultra. A regular iPhone 18, by contrast, is reportedly not due until spring 2027. All product claims should be treated explicitly as rumors until the keynote.
Sources: TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, MacRumors, TidBITS.
