In the note, he described the upcoming iPhone reveal as “phenomenal” and said it fits Apple’s plan to debut its first fold‑able iPhone and to push further into smart‑home hardware.

The memo also noted that Cook will remain at Apple as executive chairman, that he had sent his own farewell note, and that Cook’s tenure was praised for strong values. Ternus’s own résumé includes joining Apple in 2001, becoming VP of hardware engineering in 2013, senior VP in 2021, and being credited with products such as the iPhone Air, MacBook Neo, and the shift to Apple‑made silicon.

Analysts see AI as Apple’s biggest competitive gap, so how Ternus handles the newly overhauled Siri will be an early test of his leadership. For now, the tech world is focused on the September 9 keynote – the first major product event under Ternus.