Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure as Apple CEO is coming to an end — he joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs’ death, according to Bhaskar English.

From Operations to Leadership

Tim Cook joined Apple in March 1998 as senior vice president of Operations, and Before Apple, he worked at IBM, Intelligent Electronics, and Compaq, focusing on operations and supply-chain management. His early work at Apple involved streamlining the company’s supply chain, reducing inventory, and improving manufacturing efficiency, according to Bhaskar English.

Cook’s relationship with Steve Jobs was serious in his rise through the ranks; Jobs had returned to Apple in 1997 and was working to simplify the product lineup and return the company to profitability. Cook’s operational expertise became a cornerstone of Apple’s success during this period, according to Bhaskar English.

Financial Growth and Expansion

When Tim Cook became CEO in 2011, Apple’s market value was around $337 billion; By 2026, the company’s value had grown to $4.5 trillion, a 13.5-fold increase, according to Macworld. Apple’s annual revenue has also increased more than fourfold, and the number of active Apple devices has risen from 200 million to over 2.5 billion, a 14x increase over 15 years.

Apple’s stock has also seen significant gains under Cook’s leadership. The stock price increased by over 1,900 percent from 2011 to 2026, compared to the S&P 500’s 480 percent increase in the same period, according to das investment.

Apple’s first-quarter 2026 revenue was $143.8 billion, up from $124.3 billion in the previous year, Gross margin increased to $69.2 billion from $58.3 billion, and net income improved to $42.1 billion from $36.3 billion. Earnings per share also grew from $2.40 to $2.84 year-over-year, according to MarketWise.

Challenges and Transition

Apple has faced various challenges under Cook’s leadership, including geopolitical issues and supply chain disruptions, according to Macworld. Despite these hurdles, Cook has maintained Apple’s reputation as a premium brand while introducing new products and expanding its services and wearables business, according to Bhaskar English.

On April 20, 2026, Apple announced that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, becoming Executive Chairman, his successor is John Ternus, a 50-year-old hardware engineer with 25 years of experience at Apple, according to das investment.

Apple hosted a farewell celebration for Tim Cook at Apple Park on August 23, 2026, with around 200 employees attending to celebrate his 15-year tenure and the impact he has had on the company, according to Bhaskar English.

Bank of America recently raised its price target for Apple shares to $325 from $320 and reiterated a buy rating; the bank expects second-quarter 2026 revenue of $113 billion and earnings per share of $2.00, up from consensus estimates, according to MarketWise.