Tim Cook may still hold one of Apple’s most powerful positions, but he wants everyone to know that John Ternus is the one running the company.
In a new interview with The Independent, Apple’s former CEO addressed his relationship with Ternus and whether he still influences decisions behind the scenes.
“I’m not meddling. I’m not a meddler,” Cook said, making clear that he intends to give his successor room to lead.
Cook stepped down as CEO on September 1 after more than 15 years in the role, becoming Apple’s executive chairman as Ternus took over the company’s day-to-day leadership.
Cook Has a Different Job Now
Cook says his responsibilities now focus primarily on government relations and public policy, leaving Ternus to oversee Apple’s operations and product strategy.
“What I’m focused on right now is worldwide policy,” Cook explained, pointing to the company’s work with governments and its efforts to advocate for regulatory changes.
That remains a significant responsibility for Apple, which faces ongoing scrutiny over its App Store policies, competition practices, and business operations in multiple markets.
Cook also emphasized the importance of maintaining a close working relationship with Ternus.
“The relationship must be based on trust, and the communication must be frequent and significant,” he said.
He added that he would help Ternus in whatever way the new CEO considers useful.
Ternus Is Already Making Changes
Since taking over, Ternus has begun putting his own priorities into motion.
He’s reportedly restructuring parts of Apple to accelerate product development, streamline engineering teams, and expand the company’s hardware lineup.
Those changes could signal a different approach to product development under a CEO whose career at Apple was built around hardware engineering.
Ternus also inherited an unusually busy launch schedule. Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, opens for preorders October 16 and arrives October 23, while a separate smart home announcement is scheduled for October 13.
Cook’s continued presence as executive chairman means he’ll remain involved in Apple’s broader direction, but his comments suggest he wants Ternus to have the freedom to make decisions and establish his own leadership style.
