Apple CEO Tim Cook Denies Retiring In 2026

JAKARTA - Reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook will announce a retirement plan before WWDC 2026 are confirmed not to be true. Although the internal succession process continues, Cook is said to have not planned to withdraw from the Cupertino-based audience in the near future.

The Financial Times previously reported that Tim Cook will begin preparing for a leadership transition in early 2026, in which John Ternus is named the strongest candidate to replace the CEO position.

However, according to newsletter Power On, the news was considered completely wrong and was not sourced from Apple. The Apple Insider team also doubted the claim from the start.

Although many Apple executives are at an age that will allow retirement in the next five years, Cook is said to be the most likely to last longer.

Speculation says Cook will remain in office at least until the end of the current US Presidential term, which ends in January 2029. Cook has been Apple's face on various political issues and government policies, and is considered to want to "protect" his successor from pressure on relations with the controversial government.

Tim Cook baru saja berusia 65 tahun, usia yang pada umumnya sudah masuk masa pensiun bagi banyak eksekutif. Namun sejauh ini tidak ada tanda kesehatan yang lemah atau indikasi bahwa ia siap mundur dari posisi puncaknya.

If Cook survives until 2029, he will be close to 70 years old when he finally leaves the position of CEO. This is not extraordinary in the corporate world "Warren Buffett, for example, is still CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the age of 95, although the level of demand for that position is very different from the CEO of Apple.

After retiring later, Cook is expected to continue serving as Chairman of the Board. This means that even though he no longer leads Apple's daily operations, his influence in the company's policy direction will still be felt over the years.