Tim Cook

Tim Cook is a business executive who joined Apple in 1998 and has served as its chief executive officer and a director since 2011. As of August 22, 2026, he remained CEO, with Apple having announced that he would become executive chairman when John Ternus assumes the chief executive role on September 1, 2026.

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Profile

About Tim Cook

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

United States · Business executive · 3 affiliations

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Known for: Consumer electronics leadership; Supply-chain and operations leadership; Technology innovation and environmental sustainability
Country: United States

Business executive

At a glance

Cook has served as Apple’s chief executive officer and as a member of its board since 2011.
He joined Apple in March 1998 and held senior operations and worldwide sales roles before becoming chief operating officer in 2005.
Cook earned an industrial engineering degree from Auburn University in 1982 and an MBA from Duke University in 1988.
Apple announced a board-approved transition under which Cook is due to become executive chairman on September 1, 2026, while John Ternus becomes CEO.

Education and early career

Cook graduated from Auburn University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering. He completed an MBA at Duke University in 1988 as a Fuqua Scholar. Before joining Apple, he worked at IBM and Compaq, while Auburn University also records experience at Intelligent Electronics.

Operations career at Apple

Cook joined Apple in March 1998 as senior vice president of Operations. He subsequently held senior responsibility for operations and worldwide sales, including service as executive vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations from 2002 to 2005, before Apple formally appointed him chief operating officer in October 2005.

Chief executive and board leadership

Apple’s board named Cook chief executive officer on August 24, 2011, following Steve Jobs’s resignation, and appointed him to the board. Apple’s governance materials continued to identify Cook as CEO as of August 22, 2026. His public profile is closely associated with consumer electronics leadership, supply-chain and operations management, technology innovation, and environmental sustainability.

Recognition and external affiliations

The National Academy of Engineering announced Cook’s election to its Class of 2026. Apple’s January 2026 proxy also reported that he served on Duke University’s Board of Trustees, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame board, the Malala Fund Leadership Council, and NIKE, Inc.’s board; those affiliations require reverification before being described as current beyond the proxy’s publication date.

Announced leadership transition

Apple announced on April 20, 2026, that Cook would become executive chairman and that John Ternus would succeed him as CEO, effective September 1, 2026. The company described the transition as board-approved, but it had not taken effect by the profile’s August 22, 2026 as-of date.

Affiliations

Apple Inc. Chief executive officer 2011-08-24–present
Apple Inc. Director 2011–present
Apple Inc. 2011-08-24–present

Timeline

1982 Graduated from Auburn University with a degree in industrial engineering.
1988 Completed an MBA at Duke University as a Fuqua Scholar.
1998-03 Joined Apple as senior vice president of Operations.
2005-10-14 Apple formally appointed Cook chief operating officer.
2011-08-24 Apple’s board named Cook chief executive officer following Steve Jobs’s resignation.
2026-02-10 The National Academy of Engineering announced Cook’s election to its Class of 2026.

Additional verified details

Current context

As of August 22, 2026, Apple’s governance page identified Cook as Apple’s chief executive officer. Apple announced a succession scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026.
Apple announced that Cook would become executive chairman of its board and that John Ternus would become chief executive officer. Apple described this as a board-approved future transition; it was not yet effective as of August 22, 2026.
Apple’s January 8, 2026 proxy reported that Cook served on Duke University’s Board of Trustees, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame board, the Malala Fund Leadership Council, and NIKE, Inc.’s board. These affiliations should be reverified before being described as current after the proxy’s publication date.

Biographical facts

Cook joined Apple in March 1998 as senior vice president of Operations.
Before becoming CEO, Cook held senior operations and worldwide sales roles at Apple, including executive vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations from 2002 to 2005.
Before joining Apple, Cook held roles at IBM and Compaq; Auburn University also identifies prior experience at Intelligent Electronics.
Cook earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University in 1982.
Cook earned an MBA from Duke University in 1988 and graduated as a Fuqua Scholar.