The frontrunners for next Apple CEO: Speculating on Tim Cook’s successor | AppleInsider

Cook dinner’s feedback got here in an interview with Kara Swisher on her “Sway” podcast for The New York Occasions. Swisher particularly requested Cook dinner if he would stay at Apple for an additional decade.

“Ten extra years? In all probability not,” Cook dinner stated. “However I can inform you that I really feel nice proper now and the date isn’t in sight. However ten extra years is a very long time — and doubtless not ten extra years.”

Since taking up as CEO of Apple in 2011, Cook dinner has led Apple by way of its most profitable stretch ever. Whereas his model isn’t as flashy, nor are his quips as memorable as firm co-founder Steve Jobs, Cook dinner’s strategy to enterprise and life have grow to be a part of Apple’s DNA in methods that may outlast his tenure.

Who will take over for Cook dinner isn’t clear, although there are some frontrunners on the corporate’s government staff. Under, we take into account among the choices and why they may (or may not) be good candidates.

As a be aware earlier than we begin — age is clearly an element right here. Traders on Wall Road — in addition to staff, and customers — will need some reassurance that whoever follows Cook dinner isn’t solely succesful, however prepared and capable of captain the ship for an prolonged time period. As such, we have included a possible CEO’s present age as a consider how we ranked these.

Craig Federighi is properly favored and personable, he has turned the ship on Apple’s software program, and his pedigree dates again to NeXT. Apple’s 51-year-old Senior Vice President of Software program Engineering has the Apple credentials to run the present, which is especially vital at an iconic, personality-driven firm.

Nearly every part stated above about Federighi? The identical applies right here for Greg “Joz” Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Advertising and marketing. He is been with Apple since 1986, he is properly favored inside and outdoors of the corporate, and he is a recognized amount.

And whereas his present position is in advertising, Joswiak, 56, has technical chops as properly, having beforehand labored on the Macintosh staff and serving to to develop the unique iPod and iPhone. Like Federighi, he is additionally a staple at Apple keynotes, and his ascendency to the CEO position would not lead anybody to bat an eye fixed.

Which ends up in the third title amongst our prime decisions: Jeff Williams. Previous to taking up as CEO, Cook dinner served as Apple’s Chief Working Officer — a task at the moment crammed by Jeff Williams.

Williams, 58, has been with Apple since 1998 and performed a key position within the launch of the primary iPhone. He additionally led the engineering improvement of the Apple Watch — a wearable product to this point forward of the competitors that Apple has grow to be the biggest watchmaker on this planet.

Like Federighi and Joswiak, Williams can also be an everyday at Apple keynotes, as final September he was the one chosen to unveil the Apple Watch Sequence 6.

Tim Cook dinner isn’t any Steve Jobs, however his calm presence, methodical strategy, and advocacy for social points have come to outline Apple within the post-Jobs period. Character and presence matter at Apple, and all three decisions right here — Federighi, Joswiak and Williams — would match the invoice properly. For any of them to take over for Tim Cook dinner would put traders, workers and firm watchers comfy.

If Cook dinner had been to go away in 10 years on the age of 70, Federighi can be 61, Joswiak can be 66, and Williams can be 68.

Cue and Cook dinner.

Each Eddy Cue and Phil Schiller have been a part of Apple’s senior management and in extremely seen roles on the firm since Steve Jobs was in cost. For both of them to take over would really feel like a secure alternative with a well-recognized face.

Cue, who’s Apple’s Senior Vice President of Web Software program and Providers, oversees the entire firm’s content material companies, together with Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. He has been with the corporate since 1989.

Cook dinner, Jobs and Schiller.

Schiller, in the meantime, has taken a step again inside Apple. Beforehand the senior vp of worldwide advertising, he’s now an Apple Fellow, answerable for main the App Retailer and Apple Occasions.

Schiller is identical age as Cook dinner — 60 — whereas Cue is a bit bit youthful, at 56. Given Schiller’s age and his decreased position at Apple, Cue feels just like the extra seemingly alternative of those two, however nonetheless ranks behind Federighi, Joswiak and Williams.

Jackson.

Whereas these names might not be on the prime of the checklist in 2021, quite a bit might change over the following 5 or 10 years earlier than Cook dinner departs.

Lisa Jackson is Apple’s vp of Surroundings, Coverage and Social Initiatives — a task that has grow to be crucial underneath Cook dinner’s management, as evidenced by her continued appearances at Apple keynotes and product launches. She beforehand served as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Safety Company earlier than becoming a member of Apple in 2013.

At 59, Jackson’s age and brief tenure with Apple would appear to make her an outsider. However she’s additionally essentially the most seen girl amongst Apple’s management, and it is clear that Apple intends to proceed selling variety inside its ranks. Plus her management expertise might make her candidate for the CEO position.

Srouji.

Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vp of {Hardware} Applied sciences, is in command of the Apple Silicon venture, an effort that may cleared the path for the following 10 years at Apple. That alone might make him an excellent candidate to succeed Cook dinner.

Srouji, who’s 57, has been with Apple since 2008, which is a bit longer than Jackson, however nonetheless in need of the opposite names on this checklist.

Ternus.

Maybe the strongest candidate on this “third tier” of names is John Ternus, Apple’s senior vp of {Hardware} Engineering. Newly promoted to the place, he has been with Apple since 2001, overseeing {hardware} engineering work together with each era and mannequin of iPad, the newest iPhones, and AirPods. Apple’s official bio additionally says he has been “a key chief within the ongoing transition of the Mac to Apple silicon.”

Ternus’s actual age is unknown, however his LinkedIn profile exhibits that he graduated from the College of Pennsylvania in 1997. Assuming a traditional school path, Ternus is probably going in his mid-to-late 40s.

Riccio.

Earlier this yr, Apple introduced that Dan Riccio, who was in command of {hardware} engineering earlier than Ternus took over, was transitioning to a brand new, secret venture inside the firm. Accordingly, Riccio’s title and bio had been faraway from the Apple management web page, nevertheless it’s believed that he continues to play a major position.

Riccio has been with Apple since 1998, and he was promoted to SVP standing alongside Federighi in 2012. At 55, Riccio can be a possible candidate to succeed Cook dinner, however it’s unclear whether or not Apple would wish to pull him away from his newest venture, which locations him additional down the checklist of potential candidates.

Ive.

This appears to be an unlikely strategy, however something is feasible, significantly for a publicly traded firm that would see strain from traders to make a splashy rent. Nonetheless, Apple’s most believable route can be to rent from inside, so the names above appear much more possible.

That stated, if Apple had been to go for an outsider for its subsequent CEO, it might carry again some acquainted names. High of that checklist can be former lead designer Jony Ive. Whether or not or not the retired Ive, who’s 54, would even have an interest within the position is unknown.

Cook dinner and Ahrendts.

One other to contemplate is Angela Ahrendts, who was beforehand senior vp of retail at Apple. She has CEO expertise, main Burberry from 2006 to 2014. However she’s additionally the identical age as Cook dinner, at 60.

Lastly, Apple might go totally outsider and choose somebody with no historical past at Apple, which appears extremely unlikely. Apple’s distinctive tradition and storied historical past recommend that whoever takes over as the following CEO of Apple might be somebody who’s at the moment working there.