INTRO: Apple CEO Tim Cook’s retirement marks a strategic shift, with successor John Ternus prioritizing India’s $4 trillion expansion.
NEW DELHI
As Apple CEO Tim Cook prepares to step down this September, all eyes are on his successor, John Ternus, to lead the tech giant’s massive expansion in India.
Cook leaves behind a $4 trillion empire and a company that has successfully shifted much of its focus from China to Indian shores.
Under Cook’s leadership, India transformed into a vital hub for Apple. The country now assembles nearly one-quarter of all iPhones globally. Experts believe this momentum will only speed up under Ternus. While Cook was the visionary who opened flagship stores and connected with local developers, Ternus brings an engineering background that may appeal to India’s young, tech-savvy population.
Industry analysts say India is playing a dual role for Apple, it is both a powerhouse for manufacturing and a rapidly growing market for buyers. “India is becoming the new China for Apple’s supply chain,” noted Prabhu Ram of CyberMedia Research. By moving production to India and Vietnam, Apple has successfully reduced its dependence on other regions amidst global political tensions.
In his farewell statement, Cook called his time at Apple the “greatest privilege” of his life. Since 2011, he grew the company’s value from $350 billion to $4 trillion. While Cook previously brushed off retirement rumors as “just talk,” his departure marks the end of an era. Now, the mission falls to Ternus to turn India into the primary engine for Apple’s next decade of global growth.
