Apple(US:AAPL) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-11-18 04:20Core Insights - Apple is accelerating its CEO succession planning, with current CEO Tim Cook potentially stepping down as early as next year after over 14 years in the role [1][4] - John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, is widely regarded as the leading candidate to succeed Cook [1][4] - The Apple board and executives are preparing for a leadership transition, but will not announce a new CEO before the critical earnings report scheduled for the end of January [4] Group 1 - Tim Cook has been CEO since 2011, taking over from Steve Jobs, and has overseen Apple's growth into a global technology giant [4] - Current Chairman Arthur Levinson is 75 years old, which may affect his ability to continue in the role due to Apple's policy limiting board members to a maximum age of 75 [4] - There is a possibility that Cook may transition to the role of Chairman after stepping down as CEO, creating a "former CEO + new Chairman" transitional structure [4]