Tim Cook Told Apple CEO John Ternus ‘Don’t Mimic Me’ Before Stepping Aside Ahead of Apple’s Big iPhone Launch: 'I’m Not a Meddler' DUBLIN, IRELAND - 11/11/2015 Apple CEO, Tim Cook, arrives for a Q&A with members of the Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society and receive the Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage (Credit: Image via Shutterstock) Namrata Sen Sun, October 11, 2026 at 5:45 AM EDT 6 min read AAPL -1.11% Trade Apple on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Tim Cook says his first month as executive chair of Apple Inc. has followed the succession plan that moved John Ternus into the CEO role before the company's next major product launch.
Cook transferred Apple's leadership to Ternus on Sept. 1, ending a 15-year run as chief executive and beginning a new role focused on government relations, global policy and strategic support. Speaking to The Independent on Thursday, Cook said the transition had been developed over several years to give Ternus a strong foundation.
A single bad hire can set a startup back years. Here are the 5 hires founders most often misjudge — and why
Still Learning the Market? These 50 Must-Know Terms Can Help You Catch Up Fast
The former CEO deliberately stepped aside before Apple's iPhone Duo launch in early September, letting Ternus lead through a critical product cycle. "I wanted John to have some wind at his back," he said. Cook added that Apple's momentum is closely tied to its product cycle, which is looking "unbelievably great" currently.
Cook said he and Ternus share "an incredible level of trust" and communicate frequently. While he remains available to help whenever Ternus asks, Cook emphasized that he is not involved in Apple's day-to-day management without "meddling" in his successor's leadership. I'm not a meddler," he said.
The former CEO also advised Ternus to establish his own leadership style rather than copy prior executives. He recalled receiving similar advice from Steve Jobs, who emphasized that every leader brings distinct strengths. "Don't mimic me. Just like I didn't mimic Steve," he said.
Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your 'Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time
While Ternus took over the CEO role on Sept. 1, Cook remains executive chair while preserving relationships with President Donald Trump and the Chinese government. The former CEO said in his latest interview that he is focused on global policy and government relations, advocating for policy changes.
Apple's September filing disclosed a $47 million compensation package for Cook as chair, nearly matching Ternus' new CEO package. The arrangement underscored expectations that Cook would remain closely involved.
On Wednesday, Tim Cook and King Charles III launched Creative Labs in London, a joint initiative with The King's Trust to help young people aged 18 to 30 explore careers in creative industries through workshops and expert-led training. The first cohort of up to 20 participants began sessions this week at Apple Music Hall, with more programs planned over the next year.
Skip the Regrets: The Essential Retirement Tips Experts Wish Everyone Knew Earlier.
Think you're saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why
Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.
For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.
For accredited investors looking beyond traditional stocks and bonds, Realberry provides access to institutional-quality real estate investments, including a preferred equity opportunity in the 297-room Hyatt Place Boston Seaport. The firm has invested across multiple property types and markets, with 13 million square feet of real estate across seven U.S. states and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025.
Entertainment franchises can become valuable long-term assets when they successfully expand across multiple platforms. Skybound Entertainment, the company behind The Walking Dead and Invincible, develops original intellectual property that spans comics, television, film, video games, merchandise, and licensing. With more than 250 IPs in its portfolio and a strategy focused on retaining franchise rights while scaling successful stories across media, Skybound offers investors exposure to the growing entertainment and creator economy through a private company rather than traditional public market investments.
As artificial intelligence drives a surge in electricity demand, reliable power generation is becoming a critical part of the technology ecosystem. American PowerGen is developing natural gas-fired power plants in Texas, a fast-growing market fueled by AI data centers, manufacturing expansion, and population growth. By advancing projects through permitting, fuel supply, and grid interconnection, the company is positioning itself to help meet rising energy needs while offering investors exposure to the infrastructure supporting the next wave of AI and industrial growth.
As AI coding tools take on more of the work traditionally done by developers, companies are facing new challenges around code quality, context and the rising cost of AI-powered development. Bito is building software designed to help AI coding agents better understand complex codebases while helping companies control AI development costs. Founded by former PubMatic executives, Bito has raised more than $10 million from institutional and individual investors and is now raising additional capital through a Wefunder offering, giving investors an opportunity to invest in a company targeting an emerging need within the rapidly expanding AI software market.
For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and traditional real estate opportunities, DLP Capital provides access to private real estate strategies focused on workforce housing — homes for essential workers such as teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers. With more than $5.5 billion in assets under management and a community of 4,000+ accredited investors, DLP Capital gives investors access to real estate strategies designed around the growing need for housing that working Americans can actually afford.
Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.
Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
