Apple is preparing for its third leadership transition. John Ternus, 50, is expected to succeed Tim Cook as CEO starting in September. The coincidence is notable: Ternus is the same age Cook was when he took over from Steve Jobs. International media have dubbed him the “third man” of Apple — a nod to his Latin-derived surname suggesting groups of three.
A former competitive swimmer in the 1990s, Ternus now faces the challenge of steering the world’s most valuable company through the fiercely competitive AI landscape. His appointment signals continuity but also a generational shift at a company that has defined consumer technology for two decades.
