Tim Cook

Timothy Donald Cook was born November 1, 1960, in Robertsdale, Alabama. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1982 and received an MBA from Duke University in 1988, where he was named a Fuqua Scholar, an honor bestowed only to business students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class.

Cook spent 12 years with IBM from 1982 to 1994, with his final position being director of North American fulfillment. He then became chief operating officer of the reseller division at Intelligent Electronics (1994-97) before becoming vice president of corporate materials at Compaq Computer Corp. (1997). Cook joined Apple in March 1998 as a senior vice president for worldwide operations, recruited personally by Steve Jobs to overhaul the company's struggling supply chain.

Career History at Apple

• 2000-2002: Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations, Sales, and Support
• 2002-2005: Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations and Sales
• 2004: Interim CEO and Chief of Macintosh Division during Jobs' medical leave
• 2005-2011: Chief Operating Officer
• 2011-2026: Chief Executive Officer (August 24, 2011 – September 1, 2026)
• 2026-present: Executive Chairman (effective September 1, 2026)

Cook revolutionized Apple's manufacturing by moving production away from its own factories to outside contractors, reducing inventory turnover from months to days. Under his leadership as CEO, Apple increased donations to charity and in 2013 hired Lisa Jackson, formerly head of the Environmental Protection Agency, to assist with renewable energy initiatives. In 2014, Cook became the first and only chief executive of a Fortune 500 company to publicly come out as gay. In February 2026, Cook was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for advancing technological innovation, environmental sustainability and transformative leadership in the supply chain of consumer electronics.

Under Cook's leadership, Apple has grown from a market capitalization of approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion, representing a more than 1,000% increase, and yearly revenue has nearly quadrupled, from $108 billion in fiscal year 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal year 2025. Cook oversaw the introduction of numerous products and services including new categories like Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro.

What Tim Cook could bring to Executive Chairman at Apple Inc.:

As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world. Drawing on 28 years at Apple and 15 years as CEO, Cook's deep operational expertise, proven supply chain mastery, and established relationships with global governments and industry leaders position him to provide strategic guidance on long-term business direction while the new CEO focuses on product innovation and day-to-day operations. His track record of transforming Apple into the world's most valuable company while advancing sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives suggests he will play a key role in shaping Apple's strategic priorities in AI, environmental commitments, and government relations during a critical technology transition period.