Tim Cook Leaves Apple a Giant: 15-Year Legacy and New Era Ahead
Tim Cook's 15-year tenure as Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO came to an end on August 31, 2026. During his time leading the company, he helped grow its value from around $350 billion to over $4 trillion.
Cook took over in August 2011, following Steve Jobs' resignation due to illness. Investors have been pleased with Apple's performance under Cook's leadership, with a market expert highlighting five key milestones achieved during his tenure.
The first milestone was the significant growth of Apple's stock value, which more than doubled in the past decade. Today, Apple is the second most valuable company in the world, behind Nvidia Corporation (no specific figure mentioned) and ahead of other technology giants.
Cook also played a key role in expanding Apple's product ecosystem, introducing new products such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, AppleTV+, and services. His strength was reportedly execution, helping make Apple one of the most profitable and valuable businesses globally.
Apple joined the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) in 2015, replacing AT&T, and has since become a significant holding in various market indexes. Notably, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway acquired Apple stock in 2016, with Buffett adding to the position multiple times, making Apple its largest stock holding at $72.9 billion with 227.9 million shares.
Cook will transition into the role of executive chairman, handing over the CEO reins to John Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran who has led hardware engineering and helped oversee various product transitions.