Next Tuesday marks the official end of Tim Cook's tenure as Apple's chief executive, as he hands the reins to his successor, John Ternus. In the final stretch of his leadership, Apple and prominent figures with deep ties to the company are orchestrating a grand send-off for the departing CEO, who has rarely opened up about his personal life but is now showing a rare moment of vulnerability.
On Sunday, Apple hosted a farewell party for Cook at its campus in Cupertino, California. A source with knowledge of the event's details revealed that part of the celebration took place in the company cafeteria, Caffè Macs, located within the ring-shaped headquarters. The band OneRepublic performed in the open-air circular courtyard at the center of the building. According to the source, roughly 200 attendees, almost all Apple employees, gathered for the occasion.
Among the guests delivering farewell speeches was Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple's co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, as well as Jeff Williams, Apple's former chief operating officer who stepped down last year. Eddie Cue, who oversees Apple's services and health divisions, and Ternus, now leading hardware engineering, also addressed the crowd. Cook himself took the stage to share a few words.
Starting next week, Cook enters a new chapter in his Apple career, assuming the role of executive chairman. In its announcement about the leadership change, Apple stated that Cook will "assist with certain company matters, including engaging with global policymakers."
How Ternus will steer Apple differently from Cook in the months and years ahead remains to be seen. However, insiders familiar with the company's operations suggest that, for now, the executive lineup is expected to remain largely intact. They sum up the transition in one word: continuity. This tone even extends to the staffing around Ternus, as two sources indicated that Cook's executive assistant will continue working for the incoming CEO.
During his final earnings call as CEO last month, Cook remarked, "The transition is going extremely smoothly. I'm looking forward to John taking the helm and leading Apple into its next era."
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