Key facts
- Phil Schiller has stepped down as head of Apple's App Store and will become an Apple Fellow.
- John Ternus has succeeded Tim Cook as Apple's CEO.
- Tim Cook is now the executive chairman of Apple's board.
- Cook will focus on engaging with global policymakers.
- Cook has a history of significant engagement and donations to President Donald Trump.
- Trump previously expressed admiration for Cook's leadership at Apple.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is transitioning to the role of executive chairman, focusing on global policymaker engagement, while John Ternus takes over as CEO. This leadership change comes as Phil Schiller steps down as head of the App Store to become an Apple Fellow.
Cook's tenure as CEO has been marked by significant interactions with President Donald Trump. In 2019, Trump unintentionally referred to Cook as 'Tim Apple.' Cook personally donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration and Apple made an additional $100 billion investment commitment in U.S. manufacturing, which Trump lauded.
Despite occasional friction, such as Trump's concerns about Apple manufacturing in India, Cook has navigated these relationships by focusing on policy rather than politics. He stated his interactions with the administration were aimed at discussing policy matters. Ternus, the new CEO, has a different political giving background, with his largest recorded donation being to Senator Chuck Schumer's campaign in 2021.
Schiller, who joined Apple in 1987 and took over the App Store in 2015, will continue with the company in an Apple Fellow capacity. Carson Oliver is set to assume day-to-day operational responsibilities for the App Store, which will move under the services division led by Eddy Cue.