Tim Cook
American business executive, former Apple executive chairman
Tim Cook and the expansion of Apple
Operations before the top job
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998 and eventually became chief operating officer. In that role he managed the company’s worldwide sales, supply chain and service operations. His background was in industrial engineering, followed by an MBA at Duke University. Those operational responsibilities preceded his appointment as chief executive in August 2011.
A broader range of products
During Cook’s years as CEO, Apple introduced product categories including Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro. Its services also expanded through offerings such as Apple Pay, Apple Music and Apple TV. Apple moved its Mac computers to chips designed in-house, making hardware and silicon strategy an important part of his leadership period.
A new board role
Apple says Cook served as CEO until 2026 and then became executive chair of its board. His work at the company thus spans a long operational phase, fifteen years in the chief executive role and a subsequent board position. The shift is a useful way to distinguish his current role from the earlier period in which he ran Apple day to day.