With the Financial Times’ article indicating that Apple is gearing up for the post-Tim Cook period, a pivotal question emerges: who will assume one of the most influential roles in technology? Cook has steered Apple since 2011, boosting its valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion. Yet, as the company ventures into its next phase — especially under pressure to unveil new, cutting-edge hardware and stay competitive in AI — a list of potential successors is beginning to crystallize.

At the forefront of that list is the individual insiders consider the most probable candidate: John Ternus.

John Ternus (the leading candidate)

Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, appears to have the clearest path to the CEO position. Since joining the company in 2001, he has directed engineering for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, playing a significant role in the transition to Apple silicon. It’s fair to assert that he has literally worked on every major Apple device in the contemporary era. With hardware central to Apple’s strategy — and the company requiring someone who comprehends the product pipeline thoroughly — Ternus is widely regarded as Cook’s successor, according to the Financial Times.

Craig Federighi

Federighi, Apple’s software leader, represents macOS and iOS, and is one of the company’s most visible figures owing to his keynote appearances. While he possesses charm and credibility with users, Apple might prefer to focus on operations and hardware-centric leadership for the top position, making him a less likely yet still significant candidate.

Eddy Cue

Cue manages services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and the App Store. Services serve as a major revenue source for the organization, but Cue’s specialization is concentrated on that specific ecosystem as opposed to Apple’s core hardware and operations. Still, as one of Apple’s longest-serving executives, his name frequently surfaces in succession discussions.

Katherine Adams

As General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Legal and Global Security, Adams handles a diverse array of responsibilities, including corporate governance, privacy, and global security. Her background at Honeywell and extensive experience in legal strategy render her vital within the company; however, historically, Apple has not appointed a CEO from the legal department.

Sabih Khan

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Khan manages global operations, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and AppleCare. Having been part of Apple since 1995 and significantly contributing to the launch of nearly every major Apple product, he exemplifies the classic Tim Cook archetype more than anyone aside from Ternus. If Apple seeks a consistent operations-first leader again, Khan serves as the alternative choice.

So who’s truly next?

All indicators point to Ternus. He embodies the product-first vision Apple wishes to uphold, he’s already leading the teams responsible for its most crucial devices, and insiders indicate that the board is gearing up for a transition that emphasizes hardware expertise, as per the Financial Times. Nothing is set in stone — and Apple may still change course — but currently, Ternus is the individual to keep an eye on.