Apple won’t be the same in 2026. Meet the company’s next generation of leaders and rising stars after its biggest executive exodus in years

Core Insights - Apple is undergoing a significant leadership transformation, with key executives retiring and new appointments being made as the company prepares for potential succession planning for CEO Tim Cook, who may retire in 2026 [2][6][21] Leadership Changes - John Ternus has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Tim Cook, bringing extensive hardware engineering experience to the role [1][7] - Jeff Williams, the former COO, retired in July after 27 years, while CFO Luca Maestri stepped back to oversee corporate services [3][5] - Lisa Jackson, VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives, will retire in January, and Kate Adams, general counsel, will retire late next year [5] AI and Design Leadership - Amar Subramanya, a veteran from Google and Microsoft, has been appointed to lead Apple's AI efforts, indicating a strategic push to enhance AI capabilities [8][9] - Stephen Lemay has replaced Alan Dye as the head of user interface design, with positive internal reception highlighting a return to Apple's design-first philosophy [10][12] Operations and Legal Leadership - Sabih Khan has taken over as COO, consolidating responsibilities and maintaining continuity in operations [13][14] - Jennifer Newstead, currently Meta's chief legal officer, will become Apple's general counsel, merging legal and government affairs roles amid increasing regulatory scrutiny [15][16][17] Strategic Implications - The leadership changes reflect a shift in Apple's strategic priorities, potentially emphasizing hardware innovation and product differentiation under Ternus [24][25] - The consolidation of executive roles suggests a tightening of Apple's structure, possibly driven by cost considerations and the need for clearer authority lines [20] Future Outlook - The success of the new leadership team will be critical in maintaining Apple's innovation momentum while navigating challenges in AI competition and regulatory pressures [23] - The anticipated changes in 2026 are expected to be pivotal for Apple, focusing on accelerating AI efforts and rolling out new product designs [25]