Apple held a farewell party for Tim Cook a week prior to Ternus assuming control.

      Apple hosted a farewell party for Tim Cook on Sunday, one week before he steps down as the company's chief executive. Approximately 200 attendees, primarily Apple employees, gathered at the Caffè Macs cafeteria on the Cupertino campus, where OneRepublic performed. The evening was reported by Aaron Tilley for The Information, citing an attendee.

      The timing was significant, as Cook was set to celebrate 15 years as CEO the following day, and he will pass the position to John Ternus on September 1.

      Speakers at the event included Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and Jeff Williams, the chief operating officer who worked closely with Cook until his retirement in 2025. Eddy Cue, head of Apple’s services and health sector, and Ternus, who leads hardware engineering, also spoke. Notably, all speakers were either current or former Apple executives or family members, with no outside industry figures reported to have spoken.

      A significant moment during the evening was when Cook acknowledged a partner, referring to him only as Mike. This marked a rare personal moment for Cook, who has largely kept his private life separate from his public persona for the past 15 years. Tilley highlighted this detail, which received further attention on social media, but no additional information about the partner has been disclosed, and Apple has not commented.

      This acknowledgment is not a new revelation about Cook, as he publicly came out in 2014 and has maintained a low profile regarding his personal life. What was different about this occasion was the context, as he mentioned his partner in front of colleagues as he transitions from his role.

      However, Cook is not completely leaving the company. Starting September 1, he will assume the position of executive chairman, continuing to assist in specific areas including engagement with global policymakers. This role is less public yet still substantial, keeping him close to government interactions.

      Cook's discussions with EU tech officials in Brussels in July were described as constructive, particularly concerning Apple's Siri AI features, which remain restricted in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Retaining Cook to liaise with regulators allows Ternus to focus on his new responsibilities without needing to acclimate to the regulatory landscape immediately.

      Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001 and has led hardware engineering since 2021, will present the upcoming iPhone at the September event—an initial highlight for him as CEO, developed under Cook's leadership. He has expressed a desire to expand on Apple's film endeavors and to revive a design studio that lost its former talent.

      Insiders indicate that the transition is intended to maintain continuity, with minimal changes expected.

      One clear sign of this continuity is that Cook’s executive assistant will continue in their role to support Ternus. This decision reflects how the office will operate moving forward.

      Ternus inherits challenges, particularly regarding component costs; Cook had mentioned a price increase due to memory chip shortages, and the recent Mac updates included higher starting prices compared to previous models. This recent product launch is likely Cook’s last as CEO.

      Over his tenure beginning in August 2011, Cook has been credited with growing Apple into a multi-trillion-dollar enterprise, managing supply chains, and navigating geopolitical issues. He oversaw the release of significant products including the Apple Watch, AirPods, and the Apple Silicon chip initiative, ending reliance on Intel. However, the area of artificial intelligence remains a gap, especially with Siri features not available in Europe.

      While the title of executive chairman is legitimate and Cook will hold it, he relinquishes the direct accountability that comes with the CEO role. From next Tuesday, Ternus will take on that responsibility. The initial challenge will be the iPhone event, followed by the need to address why Apple’s AI features function in the U.S. but not in Europe—an issue Cook has been managing but will not be primarily responsible for going forward.