Departing Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent a farewell memo to employees on his last day at the company, describing his 15 years in charge as the “privilege of a lifetime”.
The 65-year-old will continue as an executive chairman of Apple’s board, having guided the US tech giant since taking over from co-founder Steve Jobs.
“This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words,” he wrote in the memo, which was obtained by 9to5Mac.
“I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
“I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply... I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision.”
Under his leadership, Apple has become a trillion-dollar company and launched several major products, including the Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro.
Incoming CEO John Ternus officially steps into the role on 1 September, having served as a senior vice president of hardware engineering at Apple.
One of his first major tests will be overseeing Apple’s biggest product showcase of the year next week, with the expected unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro, new Apple Watches, and the company’s first foldable smartphone.
Cook cited Ternus’s background in hardware in his farewell memo, claiming that “few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.”
Ternus said he was “profoundly grateful” after being announced as the new CEO in April, 25 years after first joining the firm as a member of the product design team.
“Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor,” he said.
“I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
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