Whoever replaces Tim Cook at Apple will have ‘big shoes to fill’

Tim Cook brought Apple into the era of smart watches and wireless headphones. Will it exist in the age of artificial intelligence?

Cook, 65, may retire as CEO as soon as next year Financial Times He has He has been reported to be stepping back as the company tries to find its place in the age of artificial intelligence, and having overseen Apple’s (AAPL) foray into Apple Watches and AirPods. This may explain why a number of executives are leaving the company now, a possible attempt to push through a leadership change.

“Tim Cook’s era of unparalleled expansion at Apple presents big shoes to fill,” JP Morgan said in a research note last month. “His tenure since then [2011] He is distinguished by exceptional feats.

Apple did not respond to questions from Investopedia About Cook’s plans. Bloomberg News It stated that Cook is unlikely to leave the CEO role in 2026 – a view shared by some analysts. Cook “will remain Apple’s CEO through at least the end of 2027 to see Apple through this major shift in AI technology in Cupertino,” Wedbush wrote in a research note on Sunday.

However, succession was on investors’ minds before Financial Times The report — and before executives such as John Gianandrea, senior vice president of machine learning and artificial intelligence strategy, and Alan Day, vice president of human interface design, announced their exits, JPMorgan said.

Apple’s top executive, John Ternos, who has been with the company since 2001, would likely replace Cook, the bank’s analysts said last month.

Cook, who replaced Steve Jobs in August 2011, has delivered great results for Apple shareholders. Stock prices rose 20-fold during Cook’s 14-year tenure, while the S&P 500 rose nearly six-fold during that period. The company’s market value fell from less than $400 billion to $4 trillion, according to JPMorgan estimates, as Cook helped the company achieve “operational excellence” by building supply chains in Asia and guiding Apple through the Trump administration’s tariffs.

He has overseen the introduction and monetization of near-ubiquitous products like the Apple Watch and AirPods, and has helped Apple develop its reputation for health innovation through devices and tracking. “If you look into the future and look back and ask what Apple’s biggest contribution is, it would be in health,” Cook said in a recent interview. Wired.

The so-called “wearables” business is strong, and iPhone sales are booming, but some investors worry that Apple is falling behind on artificial intelligence. The company has delayed the rollout of an AI-powered version of Siri, making its suite of AI tools, called Apple Intelligence, less compelling. Wedbush said the new hires hope 2026 “will finally be the year that Apple actually enters the AI ​​revolution.”