Following a recent presentation, WIRED sat down with John Ternus for a second time in two days to discuss his background and his appointment as Apple’s new CEO. Having started at Apple nearly three decades ago, Ternus has built his reputation on product prowess and a meticulous attention to detail.
From Product Engineering to Top Executive
Ternus first met WIRED in 2015 at Apple’s Input Design Lab in Cupertino while serving as the vice president for Mac, iPad, Ecosystem, and Audio Engineering. Early in his career, he spent four years at a virtual reality company before joining Apple, where he famously conducted a rigorous investigation to fix the unusual sound a redesigned mouse made when sliding across a table. This focus on perfectionism reflects the legacy of Steve Jobs, whom Ternus views as a mentor despite having only a handful of direct interactions with him during their decade of overlap.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing and a 40-year veteran of the company, noted to WIRED that Ternus possesses an innate sense for great products. While his promotion mirrors Satya Nadella’s rise at Microsoft, Ternus differs by stepping into a continuously successful company rather than a broken organization. Apple’s board and Tim Cook selected Ternus precisely because he represents continuity.
Demonstrating his deep internal focus, Ternus struggled to name non-Apple CEOs he admires or business books that impacted him when asked by WIRED, stating instead that he learns from the people he works with. Johny Srouji, Apple’s head of custom silicon and hardware technologies, emphasized that Ternus is a product person at heart whose 25-year history at the company guarantees cultural stability.
Navigating Politics, Policy, and the AI Shift
Taking charge of a $4 trillion corporation requires engaging with policy and politics. While reports suggest that executive chair Tim Cook will continue handling high-level government relations, Ternus explained to WIRED that Cook is available to help wherever needed while Ternus builds his own relationships. Ternus has not yet met US President Donald Trump.
Ternus also faces the monumental task of guiding Apple through the artificial intelligence shift. Addressing concerns that Apple is playing catch-up with Siri or avoiding the costs of frontier models, Ternus told WIRED that the company focuses on building products that improve lives rather than shipping AI for its own sake. He rejected the scenario where AI acts as an apocalyptic disruptor that replaces traditional apps and products, emphasizing that creation remains a deeply human endeavor.
Regarding artificial intelligence regulation, Ternus told WIRED that the company evaluates the technology from a cybersecurity perspective, maintaining a strict focus on secure products and user privacy protection.
Concluding the conversation, Ternus asked WIRED for feedback on the event’s logo, underscoring his enduring identity as a product-focused leader.
