Tim Cook is the executive chair of Apple's board and was the company's chief executive for 15 years. Apple named him CEO on 24 August 2011, the day Steve Jobs resigned.13
Cook did not start in product design. He spent 12 years at IBM, then worked at Intelligent Electronics and Compaq, and joined Apple in 1998 to run its worldwide operations. He studied industrial engineering at Auburn and took an MBA at Duke.1217
From IBM to Apple's operations chief
Cook was born in 1960 and raised in Robertsdale, Alabama. Apple hired him in 1998 as senior vice president for Worldwide Operations. In 2002 he became executive vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations, and in 2005 he became chief operating officer, a post he held until 2011.2
Taking over from Jobs
When Jobs resigned, the board named Cook, then chief operating officer, as the new CEO. Apple says the company launched Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro during his tenure, and moved to Apple-designed silicon. Services grew into a business worth more than $100 billion, and the active installed base passed 2.5 billion devices.13
Annual revenue was $394.3 billion in 2022. In January 2025 Cook said Apple was reporting its "best quarter ever", with revenue of $124.3 billion, up 4 percent.59
Privacy, the law and the 2016 encryption fight
In a March 2016 interview Cook argued that weakening encryption was "fundamentally wrong. And not just wrong from a privacy point of view, but wrong from a public safety point of view." He added: "At the end of the day I'll follow the law." In 2022 he put privacy in a short list of company commitments that also named the environment and accessibility.510
Handing over the chair
Apple announced in April 2026 that Cook would become executive chair of its board from 1 September 2026. He also sits on the board of Nike and is a trustee of Duke. Apple's 2026 proxy statement listed his 2025 pay at $74,294,811, including a $3 million base salary.141617
Antitrust cases and a securities settlement
The US Department of Justice and plaintiff states sued Apple in March 2024 and alleged that it willfully monopolised the US performance-smartphone market. Apple said it believed the lawsuit was wrong on the facts and the law and would defend it. The case was still active in May 2026, and Midpage reported no settlement on the docket. The suit is against the company, not Cook personally.81112
The European Commission fined Apple over €1.8 billion in March 2024 for App Store anti-steering rules aimed at music-streaming developers. Apple disputed the decision and said the Commission found no credible evidence of consumer harm. Separately, Apple agreed to pay $490 million to settle a class action that alleged Cook misled investors about iPhone sales in China. That is an allegation, not a finding of fact.71314
Cook, year by year
Born in Robertsdale, Alabama2
Joined Apple as senior vice president for Worldwide Operations2
Became executive vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations2
Became Apple's chief operating officer2
Named CEO after Steve Jobs resigned3
Apple's annual revenue reached $394.3 billion5
Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro with a titanium body and the A17 Pro chip6
The European Commission fined Apple over €1.8 billion over App Store music-streaming rules7
The US Department of Justice and a group of states sued Apple, alleging it monopolised the smartphone market8
Apple reported quarterly revenue of $124.3 billion, which Cook called its best quarter ever9
Questions people ask about Tim Cook
Who is Tim Cook?
The executive chair of Apple's board. He was Apple's CEO from 2011 to 2026.1
When did Tim Cook become Apple's CEO?
Apple's board named him CEO on 24 August 2011, after Steve Jobs resigned.3
Is Tim Cook still CEO of Apple?
No. He became executive chair of the board effective 1 September 2026.14
What was Tim Cook paid in 2025?
Apple's 2026 proxy statement lists total compensation of $74,294,811 for 2025, including a $3 million base salary.16
How many Apple shares does Tim Cook hold?
The 2026 proxy table lists 3,280,295 shares.16
Where did Tim Cook work before Apple?
He spent 12 years at IBM, then worked at Intelligent Electronics and Compaq before joining Apple in 1998.2
Tim Cook on Kenning
We haven't written about Tim Cook yet. New stories will appear here.
Apple on Kenning
Siri AI
Apple's rebuilt Siri, which holds conversations, answers from the web and acts in apps on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Apple Translate
The free translator built into iPhones, which can work offline and speak translations into AirPods.
Apple Writing Tools (Write with Siri)
Free proofreading and rewriting built into recent iPhones, iPads and Macs, now run through Siri.
Sources
- Apple Leadershipapple.com · primary
- Alabama Academy of Honoralabamaacademyofhonor.org · secondary · 2014
- Apple Newsroomapple.com · primary · 24 August 2011
- Apple Newsroomapple.com · primary · 20 April 2026
- Apple Newsroomapple.com · primary · 27 October 2022
- Apple Newsroomapple.com · primary · 12 September 2023
- European Commissioncyprus.representation.ec.europa.eu · primary · 4 March 2024
- US Department of Justice complaintjustice.gov · primary · 21 March 2024
- Apple Newsroomapple.com · primary · 30 January 2025
- TIME interview transcripttime.com · secondary · 17 March 2016
- Associated Pressapnews.com · secondary · 21 March 2024
- Midpage (PACER docket)app.midpage.ai · primary · 30 June 2025
- Apple Newsroomapple.com · primary · 4 March 2024
- Associated Pressapnews.com · secondary · 15 March 2024
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuitcdn.ca9.uscourts.gov · secondary · 1 May 2025
- SEC EDGAR (Apple 2026 DEF 14A proxy)sec.gov · primary · 8 January 2026
- Duke University Board of Trusteestrustees.duke.edu · primary · Jul 2025
Checked against these sources. We review every page at least every three months.