Tim Cook will officially step down as CEO of Apple after 15 years, passing the role to John Ternus on September 1. The transition marks a rare leadership shift for Apple, a company that has prioritized long-term stability with only two CEOs this century.

Ternus may not be a household name, but internally he’s been a central figure for decades. Having spent 25 years at Apple, he currently leads hardware engineering—the backbone of products like the iPhone and MacBook. Known for his low-profile leadership style, Ternus has emphasized humility and collaboration, qualities that could shape Apple’s culture as it faces new challenges like AI competition and evolving hardware innovation.