John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, is reportedly at the top of the list to succeed Tim Cook when the current Apple CEO steps down. However, the key question remains: Does Ternus have what it takes to fill a role that Steve Jobs once executed so brilliantly?

Ternus' capabilities and potential to step into such a powerful role are being heavily scrutinized. After all, he would be succeeding two legendary figures in the tech industry. His abilities to innovate and lead, as well as his vision for the future of Apple, will be critical factors in assessing his suitability for the role. Only time will tell if Ternus can continue the legacy of innovation and excellence that Jobs and Cook have established at Apple.

The Role of Apple's CEO is Epic

Since Steve Jobs' remarkable tenure as Apple's CEO, the role has assumed an almost mythical significance within the company.

This is understandable as Jobs led teams that developed groundbreaking products like the Macintosh, iPod, and iPhone. When Jobs passed away in 2011, many feared the company's downfall.

However, Tim Cook, Jobs' deputy, managed to expand Apple's success by implementing gradual product improvements and increasing revenue from services like iCloud and Apple Music. During his tenure, Apple's value on the stock market increased by 1,200%.

However, Cook had less success with world-changing new devices. The Apple Watch and AirPods were successful, but the Apple Vision Pro headset remains an uncertain investment in the future of computing, and the "secret" Apple car project is officially over.

Tim Cook's Tenure as CEO is Winding Down

Regardless of whether you admire or dislike him, Tim Cook likely won't be Apple's CEO for another decade. At 63 years old, while Cook isn't expected to step down soon, his departure is inevitable.

The Succession Challenge: Filling the CEO Role at Apple

The role of Apple's CEO carries significant weight, largely due to the remarkable legacy left by Steve Jobs. He led the creation of groundbreaking products like the Macintosh, iPod, and iPhone, which have become synonymous with Apple's identity.

When Jobs passed away in 2011, the future of the company hung in the balance. However, his deputy, Tim Cook, successfully extended Apple's trajectory of success. He focused on gradual product enhancements and increased revenue from services such as iCloud and Apple Music. This strategy resulted in a 1,200% increase in Apple's stock market value during his tenure.

Cook's efforts in launching transformative new devices, however, met with mixed results. The Apple Watch and AirPods were successful, but the Apple Vision Pro headset remains an uncertain venture in the future of computing. Furthermore, the highly speculated Apple car project has now been officially discontinued.

The Twilight of Tim Cook's Tenure

Whether you appreciate or criticize him, it's unlikely that Tim Cook will continue as Apple's CEO for another decade. Now 63 years old, Cook is not expected to retire in the immediate future, but the inevitability of his departure is recognized.

Looking forward, the question of succession looms large. John Ternus, currently Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, is reportedly a top contender for the position. He faces the daunting task of following two legendary figures in the tech industry. Ternus' abilities to innovate and lead, along with his vision for Apple's future, will be under intense scrutiny. The task ahead is challenging, but only time will reveal if Ternus can sustain the legacy of innovation and excellence established by Jobs and Cook at Apple.

Who will be the next CEO of Apple after Cook? Apparently, Apple has two plans for this. Plan A will be activated if Cook leaves his position in the near future. Conversely, Plan B applies if Cook stays for a few more years, which allows for a well-coordinated transition to his successor.

Jeff Williams, Apple's operations chief, is Plan A. Although Williams is a logical choice to be the next CEO, he's already 61 years old. This means it's unlikely he would lead the company for more than a few years. However, he could take over immediately if Apple needed a new CEO.

John Ternus is Plan B. According to a Wednesday report from Bloomberg, he is the most likely candidate to replace Cook in the long run. One of the reasons is that he's over ten years younger than the current CEO and Williams. Also, Ternus is favored by the current leader.

According to a source inside Apple, Tim Cook is fond of Ternus because he can give a good presentation, is very mild-mannered, and is cautious in decision-making.

Introducing John Ternus

Ternus has more to offer than just good conduct. He's already responsible for a significant portion of Apple products. His official company bio reveals:

"John joined Apple’s Product Design team in 2001 and has been a vice president of Hardware Engineering since 2013. During his time at Apple, John has overseen hardware engineering work on a variety of innovative products including every generation and model of iPad, the latest iPhone lineup, and AirPods. He has been a key leader in the ongoing transition of the Mac to Apple silicon."

This puts him on par with Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering.

To put a face to the name, you can watch the video of the recent "Let Loose" event. Although Cook started and ended the event, Ternus served as the master of ceremonies.

Significant questions persist. If Ternus becomes the future CEO of Apple, can he sustain Cook's successful strategy? More crucially, does he possess Steve Jobs' visionary foresight to produce the next big Apple project that fans crave — even if they don't realize it yet?

As reported by Bloomberg, Ternus "isn't without detractors." Some unnamed sources have questioned the vision and gravitas of the potential incoming Apple CEO:

Some at Apple say he’s a political operator who isn’t respected by some of the company’s top engineers, who say he doesn’t focus on future bets, make bold technology acquisitions or differentiate himself as an innovator. Skeptics also point out that Ternus hasn’t been central to many of Apple’s biggest product moves in recent years. He was involved only in later generations of the Apple Watch, for instance, and hasn’t done enough to help the company develop a successful smart-home strategy. Other executives, not Ternus, conceived of Apple’s recent foray into personal robotics, though he now runs it alongside Apple’s head of artificial intelligence. While Ternus helped lead the integration of Apple’s own chips into Macs, company executives say the switch away from Intel Corp. could have happened years earlier.

Perhaps most significantly, Ternus had limited involvement in two of Apple’s most ambitious recent projects: the Vision Pro headset and the self-driving car. Of course, the car project was a failure, and the headset hasn’t yet proved it will propel Apple into the future, so it’s not clear whether Ternus’ distance from those projects will hurt or benefit his reputation over time. He’s also had some misses, including on his first marquee feature after taking over the Mac: the Touch Bar, a touchscreen display above the MacBook Pro keyboard that confused customers and was discontinued after five years.

Another anonymous source, described as "a person close to Apple" by Bloomberg, commented, “They got a real big problem. Ternus is a great guy, but he’s honestly really junior. He comes off as just one of the guys in the room, not like a refined executive or a person in charge. Being the CEO of a multitrillion-dollar company, you better command presence in the room.”

Nevertheless, a key player in Cupertino reportedly believes Ternus is a logical choice to steer Apple into the future.

"Eddy Cue, the Apple executive known as Cook’s closest confidant, has privately told colleagues that Ternus should be the next CEO, according to a person with knowledge of the matter," Bloomberg reported.