Khaberni - While everyone is keen to acknowledge that the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, is unlikely to retire soon, and that the decision to choose his successor has not yet been taken, it seems that John Ternus is the leading candidate for his succession.
A new report by Bloomberg confirms this, describing internal and external indicators that favor Ternus, while reports still conflict over the timing of Cook’s retirement.
Last summer, it was said that there were no clear plans for the transition of Apple's leadership to a new CEO. Given that such plans take time, it was indicated that Cook intends to stay in his role for an extended period. This coincided with the retirement of Jeff Williams, the chief operating officer, who was the leading candidate, according to a report seen by "Arabia Business."
By November, as Cook turned 65, speculation renewed about when he would step down and who would follow him. At that time, John Ternus, head of hardware, was the leading candidate. Still, reports conflicted over the swiftness of the transition of leadership.
Just last week, Cook himself seemed to suggest that he planned to stay for a while longer, with hints that his statements could also imply a possible move to the chairman of the board position.
In the midst of this, a new report by Bloomberg about Ternus points to internal and external evidence that he is the most likely candidate in the race to succeed Cook.
The MacBook New laptop is, likely, the most significant new hardware launch for Apple in several years, and it was Ternus - not Cook - who was the main face of this launch.
When Apple held an event in New York to announce the MacBook New, priced at $599, it was Ternus, not Cook, who unveiled it. The following day, Ternus also appeared on the "Good Morning America" show to promote the device, the kind of media appearance Cook used to make himself.
Internally, the Bloomberg report indicates that the influence of the head of hardware at Apple is increasingly expanding.
Last year, Ternus took over the leadership of a secretive unit working on developing robots, including a device for the office with a rotating screen that focuses on a moving speaker during a "FaceTime" call, slated for launch early next year.
Ternus has also taken a larger role in marketing Apple's products, sometimes personally editing the website content and product event materials, becoming a key element in the company's efforts to make its devices more environmentally sustainable.
Ternus has also become responsible for overseeing the hardware and software design teams, making him the primary link between Apple’s famed design unit and senior management, meaning he has already become one of the most influential people in the company’s history.
An organizational chart included in the Bloomberg report shows that five departments now report to Ternus: hardware engineering, hardware product design, product testing and management, home and audio engineering, and the Apple design team.
It is also said that Ternus's managerial and communicative style closely resembles that of Cook, and he has a similar attitude towards risks.
Not everyone will see this final point positively, as some believe the company needs to be bolder. However, after initially seeming to fail to recognize the importance of artificial intelligence for the company’s future, the article notes that this is no longer true.
