Apple’s board of directors is reportedly amping up the search for a new CEO to replace Tim Cook, possibly as early as January 2026. The board recently “intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins,” according to a Saturday report from the Financial Times, which says the announcement of a new Apple CEO could come alongside the company’s post-holiday earnings report.

The story cited “several people familiar with discussions inside the tech group.”

Is Apple preparing to replace CEO Tim Cook?

Tim Cook became Apple’s CEO in August 2011, taking over the company as Steve Jobs‘ health worsened. Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has launched several high-profile and iconic products, including the plus-size iPhone 6, AirPods, the iPhone X and the Apple Watch.

He also helped diversify Apple’s supply chain and made it a $4 trillion company. Along the way, Cook effectively turned Apple’s services division into a successful business unto itself.

Previous reports suggested Apple’s SVP of hardware engineering, John Ternus, could become the company’s next CEO. The Financial Times said Ternus is “widely seen as Cook’s most likely successor, although no final decisions have been made.” The timeline for Cook’s replacement is also not yet confirmed. 

Several high-profile Apple executives have retired in recent years, the most recent being COO Jeff Williams. Apple announced in July that Williams would retire before the end of 2025, with Sabih Khan, Apple’s senior vice president of operations, stepping up to the COO role. That happened this week.

Apple’s longtime CFO Luca Maestri also stepped down this year. Kevan Parekh, the company’s vice president of financial planning and analysis, took over Maestri’s responsibilities.

A question of timing

If Apple’s board names a successor to Cook early next year, it won’t be because of the company’s performance, and the transition likely would not take place until the end of the year.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman is not convinced by the Financial Times report.

“Apple is due for a major management shake-up and the spotlight is squarely on John Ternus as Tim Cook’s successor as CEO,” he wrote Saturday n a post on X, But I don’t get the sense anything is imminent as the [Financial Times] is claiming.”

Still, Cook turned 65 this year. Even if the transition to a new CEO doesn’t happen in 2026, Apple will still need to find Cooke’s replacement within the next few years.