Bloomberg reports that Apple’s chief hardware officer, John Ternus has been leading Apple’s design teams since late last year, as Apple continues to prepare for him to take over as CEO.
Ternus, 50, joined Apple in 2001 and rose through the product and engineering ranks to become senior vice president of hardware engineering. In that role, he oversees the development of major products including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, and regularly attends major Apple events.
By bringing design into his portfolio, he can influence not only how devices are made, but also how they are perceived aesthetically and experientially, a combination that echoes his previous stints at Apple.
John Ternus is apparently the “executive sponsor” of all of Tim Cook’s leadership team’s design, which means he handles communication between the design staff and the leadership team. He represents the design team in leadership meetings and provides leadership to the design team’s leaders.
Bloomberg reports that internal sources have said Cook is looking to get Ternus involved in more areas of the company. Design decisions are made by consensus, so while Ternus is taking on a larger role, software engineering chief Craig Federighi and marketing chief Greg Joswiak will continue to influence Apple’s overall aesthetic.
Many reports have suggested that John Ternus is the most likely candidate to take over as Apple CEO when Tim Cook retires. Tim Cook turned 65 last year, but there appear to be no immediate plans for him to retire. John Ternus is Apple’s youngest senior executive at 50, so he could have a long career path if he is eventually promoted to CEO.
John Ternus leads Apple’s hardware engineering team and is described as having a calm temperament, a keen eye for detail, and a deep understanding of Apple’s supply chain. Some Apple employees fear he is too risk-averse, inexperienced in geopolitical issues, and not charismatic enough to lead Apple.
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