UNITED STATE, January 23 — Apple CEO Tim Cook has quietly expanded the role of Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus, appointing him as the executive sponsor overseeing Apple’s design organisation, according to a new Bloomberg report.
The move, made in the final months of 2025, places Ternus in charge of executive-level design strategy across both hardware and software, while design leaders continue to report directly to Cook on paper.
Previously, Apple’s design teams were overseen by former COO Jeff Williams, who retired in 2025, prompting Apple to initially state that design would report directly to Cook before responsibilities were reportedly handed to Ternus.
Bloomberg notes that while the arrangement is viewed internally as unconventional, it reflects ongoing shifts in Apple’s design leadership following years of executive reshuffles after Jony Ive’s departure.
Ternus now joins a small group of top Apple figures to ever oversee design, gaining influence despite design decisions still being made by consensus among senior leaders, including Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak.
The report also reinforces growing speculation that Ternus is being positioned as a potential successor to Cook, as Apple increasingly places him in public-facing roles and exposes him to broader company operations, even as there are no immediate signs of Cook stepping down.
