Is this the next Apple CEO?

Highly regarded by many employees and colleagues, John Ternus is a strong candidate to become Apple's next CEO.

Changes in senior management are a topic of great interest to many Apple employees. While occurring at a time of significant upheaval within the company, this reflects a logical transition as Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 1st.

Writing on Bloomberg , analyst Mark Gurman argues that Apple stock has made senior executives very wealthy. They are now prioritizing family time over strategizing the launch of the next generation of iPhones.

Responding to employees, CEO Tim Cook displayed a rare pensive tone. "When you reach a certain age, some people will retire," Cook shared, without specifying who he was referring to. Of course, he himself spends "a lot of time" thinking about his successors in the next 5, 10, and 15 years.

The most promising candidate

Tim Cook took over as Apple's CEO from Steve Jobs in 2011. While there are no signs of him stepping down in the near future, Cook has made it clear that he wants the next CEO to be from within the company, making it easier for him to provide guidance.

According to Bloomberg , the leading candidate for Apple's CEO position is John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. He oversees the development of devices, which generate approximately 80% of Apple's revenue.

At 50, Ternus is also much younger than many other leaders at Apple. This could help him maintain his top position for a longer period.

Ternus spent about half his life at Apple. He began his career developing computer displays, oversaw the design of the first iPad, and took over the Mac development division. Since assuming the top hardware engineering role in 2021, Ternus has led the strategy of expanding and improving product quality.

In early March, Apple held an event in New York to launch the $600 MacBook Neo. Ternus was the first to introduce the product, instead of Cook. The following day, he appeared on the Good Morning America program to promote the device, a role previously reserved for Cook.

Ternus launched the MacBook Neo on March 4th. Photo: Shutterstock .

Last year, Ternus took control of the robot development team, which includes a desktop device with a rotating screen for FaceTime calls. The product is expected to launch as early as next year. Ternus oversees both the hardware and software design teams, demonstrating his significant influence within the company.

Employees and managers who worked with Ternus said he made a big impact when he "changed course" and no longer compromised product quality, in a context where the company prioritized slimness and sleek design.

"He's a very meticulous and insightful engineer," Tony Blevins, former Vice President of Purchasing at Apple, said of Ternus. He emphasized that Ternus was "an excellent and obvious choice" to succeed Tim Cook.

Ternus also enjoys the support of many in Apple's leadership team due to his calm demeanor and sharp intellect. Colleagues describe him as a good communicator and someone who knows how to empower employees. This management style is quite similar to Cook's.

As a passionate cyclist and racer, Ternus often took colleagues north of Washington to watch off-road racing. Despite his love of motorsports , Ternus was very cautious at work. A longtime executive said he didn't want to "disrupt things at Apple."

Stay optimistic despite the difficulties.

There are also arguments that Apple needs leadership willing to create bigger breakthroughs. While the company's products have helped shape consumer technology for the past 50 years, Apple needs to change to continue thriving for another 50 years. For example, the next CEO could take over a business that has fallen behind its competitors in the field of AI.

Ternus has yet to prove his ability to bring Apple's entirely new product lines to market. He has also been criticized for not daring to implement groundbreaking technologies, unlike previous hardware executives.

In a 2023 interview, Ternus scoffed at the suggestion that Apple should be worried about entering the AI ​​market late. When Apple Intelligence launched, the product was so disappointing that some industry observers called for Cook's dismissal.

Nearly two years later, Apple still hasn't released a competitive AI service. New versions of Siri have been repeatedly delayed, despite many features relying on technology from Google.

Ternus has received many positive reviews from within the company. Photo: Bloomberg .

Despite concerns from the tech industry, Ternus continues to defend Apple's AI strategy.

"If we do it right, people won't even necessarily notice or think about it," he said on the Good Morning America program.

A source close to Ternus said he was well aware of the need for bolder products and a more aggressive approach to AI.

In fact, he is overseeing the development of AI-integrated home products, alongside a range of wearable devices such as smart glasses, AirPods, and pendants with computer vision-assisted cameras.

Ternus also advocates for the development of a 20-inch foldable iPad, which could be the future of laptops and tablets. He also oversaw the biggest overhaul in iPhone history, with the development of a foldable version and a full-screen phone, expected to launch in 2027.

Challenges to face

If Jobs was seen as a genius of innovation and Cook as a supply chain expert, Ternus ensured the equipment actually worked. According to Gurman, he has a very high level of technical expertise, often delving into minute details and preferring to hire engineers who dare to push boundaries. This could make Ternus a very different CEO from his two predecessors.

Prior to his current role, Ternus made his mark by expanding the iPad product line. He also led the development of AirPods and the company's first 5G phones. In 2021, Ternus replaced Dan Riccio as head of hardware.

Ternus's leadership helped to ease tensions between the hardware and software teams. His close collaboration with Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi helped the company navigate a challenging period.

However, Ternus also made some mistakes. He played a key role in the development of the Touch Bar, the touch-sensitive bar that replaced the function keys on the MacBook Pro.

"He tried to include it, arguing that it was a differentiating feature, a good marketing idea," a source close to the company said. As a result, the feature failed to attract users and was removed after five years.

Ternus at an Apple event. Photo: Apple .

Ternus's next failure was the butterfly keyboard, designed to reduce the slimness of the MacBook but proving uncomfortable and excessively noisy to use. The mechanism performed so poorly that it led to a class-action lawsuit, forcing Apple to settle for $50 million .

Ternus isn't always as straightforward as it seems. For example, during the preparation for the Vision Pro launch, engineers discovered a bug related to the ultra-low latency audio transmission feature for AirPods Pro 2.

The only solution is to release a modified version of AirPods, adding the missing frequency. The device will be available in late 2023, meaning those wanting to experience this feature on the Vision Pro will have to purchase the latest headphones.

This incident affected multiple teams and caused internal controversy. Ternus reportedly alienated some employees by focusing on finding someone responsible. As a result, a manager in charge of AirPods was reassigned.

Overall, an anonymous source said Ternus viewed the mistakes as systemic issues that could be addressed by improving leadership rather than blaming the engineers.

The race to become Apple's CEO is not yet over. The next logical candidate is Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan, a position Cook held before becoming CEO.

Cook himself seems reluctant to reveal his retirement plans. He still comes to the company office most workdays. Even after leaving the position, Cook could still play a diplomatic role for Apple, especially if the transition occurs while Donald Trump is still President of the United States.

Although he doesn't frequent the White House, Ternus is appearing more frequently in public. He often accompanies other leaders on international trips and gives keynote speeches for products like the iPhone Air and iPhone 17.

"When Apple plans to hold a grand 50th anniversary celebration in California, prepare to see Ternus in the centerpiece," Gurman emphasized.

Source: https://znews.vn/day-la-ceo-apple-tiep-theo-post1637739.html