Amid speculations about Tim Cook’s eventual departure as Apple’s CEO, a new report talks about potential successors for the top job. While Jeff Williams, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, was once seen as the frontrunner, his age have caused uncertainties about the long-term commitment. Meanwhile, John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, is being seen as another contender for the CEO role.

File Photo: Apple CEO Tim Cook in Jakarta (Image Credits: REUTERS/ Willy Kurniawan)

Tim Cook took the reins of Apple from Steve Jobs in 2011. He’s been serving as the Apple CEO for over two decades and will probably have to leave his post sooner or later as he turns 64 this year. A new report from Bloomberg, while noting that there is no reason to assume an imminent change at the helm, ponders on the idea of a successor and who could replace Cook for the top job at one of the most prominent tech companies in the world. Let’s take a detailed look.

Potential candidates for Tim Cook’s replacement

Based on conversations with several people familiar with Apple’s inner workings, the report mentions the possibility of Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams being promoted as the next CEO. As per the report, Williams emerged as the top candidate to be Cook’s successor a few years ago and will probably replace the current CEO for the top job, if a change were to be made soon.

As per the report, Apple’s board likely desires an executive who, similar to Cook and Jobs, would commit to the company for an extended period, ideally a decade or more. However, since Williams (61) is only two years younger than Cook, it is unlikely that he will be in it for the long haul.

A longtime Apple executive told the publication that there was a strong belief five years ago that Jeff was the frontrunner for the CEO position. However, the delayed refresh creates challenges in identifying suitable candidates for the leadership role. People close to Cook anticipate him remaining as Apple’s CEO for at least another three years, the report said.

Talking about other potential candidates for the CEO role at Apple, the report highlights Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering– John Ternus. He is reportedly regarded highly within the company and praised by Tim Cook, Eddy Cue, and others. Known for his managerial qualities resembling those of Tim Cook, Ternus at 49 years old, is seen as more likely to remain with Apple long-term compared to other executives.

The report mentions Ternus earning endorsement privately from key figures within Apple, including Christopher Stringer and Eddy Cue, as the next CEO. Finally, the report mentions that while other executives like Craig Federighi and Deirdre O’Brien are liked but deemed unlikely to succeed Cook, those like Phil Schiller and Dan Riccio are seen as nearing the end of their tenures.