Tim Cook

Tim Cook (born 1960) was chief executive officer of Apple from August 2011 to August 2026, and since 1 September 2026 has been executive chair of its board. Apple's 2026 proxy statement gives his age as 65 as of January 2026. The starting point for understanding him is the pairing itself: an operations and supply-chain specialist succeeding Steve Jobs, a founder known for product vision.

IBM, Intelligent Electronics, Compaq

He holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University and an MBA from Duke University, where he was a Fuqua Scholar. According to Apple's official biography as it stood in 2012, he spent the first twelve years of his career at IBM, finally as director of North American Fulfillment, leading manufacturing and distribution for IBM's Personal Computer Company in North and Latin America. He was then chief operating officer of the reseller division at Intelligent Electronics, and at Compaq vice-president of corporate materials, responsible for procuring and managing all of Compaq's product inventory.

Manufacturing, distribution and inventory — the least glamorous parts of the PC industry — run through the whole of that record.

Thirteen years running Apple's operations

He joined Apple in 1998 as senior vice-president of operations. In 2002 he became executive vice-president of worldwide sales and operations, in 2004 he also took charge of the Macintosh division, and on 14 October 2005 he was named chief operating officer. In that announcement Jobs said Cook had been doing the job for over two years and it was time to recognise it officially, and that the two had worked together for over seven years.

When he was named CEO in 2011, Apple described his responsibilities as COO as all of the company's worldwide sales and operations — end-to-end management of the supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets — together with the Macintosh division.

The succession of August 2011

On 24 August 2011 Jobs resigned as CEO in a letter to the board, writing: "I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple." The board named Cook CEO the same day, and he joined the board. Speaking for the board, Art Levinson referred to Cook's thirteen years of service. The iPhone 4S event of 4 October 2011 was the first time Cook introduced a new iPhone as chief executive.

Fifteen years as CEO

The main milestones of his tenure are below; each is covered in detail on its own page.

In its April 2026 announcement Apple said that during his tenure its market capitalisation rose from about US$350 billion to US$4 trillion and annual revenue from US$108 billion in fiscal 2011 to more than US$416 billion in fiscal 2025; that services had become a business of more than US$100 billion a year; and that the active installed base had passed 2.5 billion devices. These are the company's own figures.

The open letter on privacy

On 16 February 2016 Apple published "A Message to Our Customers," signed by Cook. In the investigation of the San Bernardino shooting of December 2015, the US government had demanded a version of iOS that would bypass the phone's security. The letter said, "They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone," and opposed the demand, which relied on the All Writs Act of 1789. Apple's current official biography says he has long advocated for privacy as a fundamental human right.

Executive chair

On 20 April 2026 Apple announced that, effective 1 September 2026, Cook would become executive chair of the board and John Ternus, senior vice-president of hardware engineering, would become CEO. The board approved the transition unanimously, and Levinson, non-executive chairman for fifteen years, moved to lead independent director. As executive chair Cook is to assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world. In the announcement he called being Apple's CEO "the greatest privilege of my life."

According to his current official biography, outside Apple he serves on the board of Nike and as a trustee of Duke University, among other roles.

Assessment

What Apple itself lists as the achievements of his tenure is expansion to global scale, emerging markets included, and a restructuring of the business through services, wearables and Apple-designed silicon. The revenue and market-value figures are large, but, as noted above, they are all figures the company has published about itself.