Apple saw a leadership change in September: Tim Cook, who ran the company for years, moved to the chairman role. John Ternus, head of the hardware division, took the vacant CEO seat. Cook has now shared what his role looks like in this new arrangement.

Clearly divided roles

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In an interview with The Independent, Cook said that after the restructuring he has devoted himself to a different area. He said he holds meetings with governments around the world, and that these contacts matter greatly to the issues Apple wants to advance. He also noted he continues to represent Apple at events such as official dinners at the White House.

On the Ternus side, the picture is different: Cook said outright that he does not touch the new CEO's decisions. The two have built a strong bond of trust, he said, and a healthy working relationship comes not from rare but from frequent, meaningful conversations. He stressed he is not an interfering type; he is there when Ternus wants him, and stays out of the way otherwise.

Not imitation, but his own path

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The legacy Cook passed on during the handover was also telling. He said he told Ternus to fully own the job and to spend his time on the areas where he can contribute most to the company. He added that Ternus should not be compared to him — after all, he himself never copied Steve Jobs. Every leader's strengths differ, he reminded.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Ternus embraced that advice in remarks to his team, saying he would focus on the areas where he can contribute most to Apple. Cook closed by assessing the transition: he hopes the leadership handover he carried out with Ternus will be the best in history and will one day become a case study worth teaching.