[8-K] Apple Inc. Reports Material Event

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Apple Inc. is announcing a planned leadership transition. Tim Cook will move from Chief Executive Officer to Executive Chair of Apple’s Board of Directors effective September 1, 2026. On that same date, John Ternus, currently Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will become Chief Executive Officer and join the Board.

Art Levinson, now Chair of the Board, will become Lead Independent Director on the transition date. Apple highlights Mr. Ternus’s long tenure since 2001 and leadership in hardware engineering, product design, and innovation. Apple and Mr. Ternus will enter into Apple’s standard indemnification agreement for directors and executive officers.

Insights

Corporate governance analyst

Apple outlines an orderly CEO succession with an internal leader.

Apple is executing a structured CEO succession plan. Tim Cook will become Executive Chair, while long-time hardware executive John Ternus steps into the CEO role and joins the Board, signaling continuity in strategy and product leadership.

Keeping Cook as Executive Chair preserves institutional knowledge and stakeholder relationships, while Ternus brings deep experience in engineering and device development. Art Levinson’s move to Lead Independent Director maintains independent oversight on the Board, which can help balance continuity with governance discipline.

The effectiveness date of September 1, 2026 provides a clear runway for transition planning and external communication. Subsequent disclosures about Ternus’s compensation package and any strategic updates will further shape how this leadership change is perceived over time.

8-K Event Classification

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers

1 item

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
April 17, 2026

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

Apple Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

California
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 001-36743
(Commission File Number) 94-2404110
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Apple Park Way

Cupertino, California 95014

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(408) 996-1010

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.00001 par value per share	AAPL	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
1.625% Notes due 2026	—	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
2.000% Notes due 2027	—	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
1.375% Notes due 2029	—	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
3.050% Notes due 2029	—	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
0.500% Notes due 2031	—	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
3.600% Notes due 2042	—	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 20, 2026, Apple Inc. (“Apple”) announced that Tim Cook will transition from his role as Chief Executive Officer to Executive Chair of Apple’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective September 1, 2026 (the “Transition Date”). On April 17, 2026, the Board appointed John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, in each case effective on the Transition Date. Art Levinson, current Chair of the Board, will become Lead Independent Director on the Transition Date.

Mr. Ternus, 50, joined Apple in 2001 and assumed his current position in 2021. Mr. Ternus’s previous positions at Apple include Vice President, Hardware Engineering. Apple believes Mr. Ternus will bring to the Board extensive executive leadership experience in the technology industry, including engineering, product design and innovation.

There are no family relationships between Mr. Ternus and any director or executive officer of Apple that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K, and there are no transactions between Mr. Ternus and Apple that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with his appointment, Apple and Mr. Ternus will enter into Apple's standard indemnification agreement for directors and executive officers. Apple intends to file an amendment to this filing containing the information called for by Item 5.02(c)(3) of Form 8-K within four business days after the information is determined or becomes available.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: April 20, 2026	Apple Inc.
	By:	/s/ Jennifer Newstead
		Jennifer Newstead
		Senior Vice President,
		General Counsel and Secretary

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents

Other Documents

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• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE 19.2 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 29.2 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 21.6 KB