Tim Cook left the role of Apple CEO on September 1, just before John Ternus’s first big launch, the iPhone Duo. His departure from Apple has been years in the making inside the company and has been its best-kept secret. Now we know a little more about this transition.
The iPhone Duo was part of the plan and so was his focus on politics
In a recent interview with The Independent, Cook explains how he wanted Ternus to have “the wind at his back” from day one. At Apple, that momentum comes with the product cycle. So, after Tim Cook’s handover, Ternus was able to make his debut with the unveiling of the iPhone Duo. Cook deliberately chose the most favorable moment for Ternus.
Cook speaks of his extraordinary mutual trust and frequent communication with Ternus and of how, as executive chairman, he is focusing his time on global politics and relations with governments. The separation of roles seems carefully designed at Apple.
“First of all, John and I have an incredible level of mutual trust. The relationship has to be based on trust and communication has to be frequent and meaningful. Beyond that, right now I’m focused on politics on a global scale. And the relationship with governments around the world is important because there are many issues on which we’re trying to make progress or promote change. There’s a considerable amount of work in this area, and that’s what I’m doing, in addition to helping John in whatever way he thinks is appropriate. I don’t meddle. I’m not a person who meddles.”
This lines up with Ternus’s first interview as CEO and with his plans to speed up the development of new products and focus on it.
Tim’s advice to Ternus is clear: make the role his own and focus where he can add the most value, just as Cook did after receiving the same advice from Steve Jobs.
