Tim Cook is stepping down. What happens to Apple now?

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TLDR

  • Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO in September, with hardware chief John Ternus set to succeed him.

Key Facts

  • Cook is handing leadership to John Ternus, currently Apple’s head of hardware.
  • The App Store’s 30% commission is under pressure as developer power dynamics shift.
  • TechCrunch’s Equity podcast hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane analyzed the transition alongside other deals, including SpaceX’s $60B option on Cursor.

Why It Matters

  • Ternus inherits a durable business but a more contested platform ecosystem than Cook shaped.
  • Changes to App Store economics and developer relationships could affect how software is built and distributed on Apple’s platform.

Theresa Loconsolo, TechCrunch · 2026-04-24 · Read the original