Succession plans for Tim Cook, 63, are gradually becoming a hot topic at Apple. Among the company's senior executives whose influence continues to grow is John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.
Tim Cook has led the corporation since 2011. Under his leadership, Apple introduced the Apple Watch, strengthened its digital services business, and focused on mixed reality technologies.
The position of a potential successor was previously linked to Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams; however, his age and long tenure make it more likely that leadership will pass to the next generation of managers.
John Ternus has been at Apple since 2001. He began his career as an engineer working on Mac displays and later rose to lead the company's entire hardware division, which includes the iPad, Mac, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
In recent years, Ternus has become one of the company's most visible executives.
Tim Cook is expected to remain at Apple after he steps down as CEO. He could take on the role of chairman of the board, a move that has been seen in the past at other major tech companies such as Amazon and Microsoft.
