Apple CEO Tim Cook, penned a post on his final day as the company’s chief executive officer, saying his title would change but his 'love' for the Apple community would remain unchanged.Cook took over for Steve Jobs in August 2011, when he embarked on a record-breaking 15-year tenure at the iPhone manufacturer that included the launch of the Apple Watch, AirPods, and major expansions to the iPhone, iPad and Mac lines. In his new job as executive chairman at Apple, Cook will remain responsible for working with governments around the world, including those of the US and China.“My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will,” Cook said, thanking the Apple community for being a “constant source of inspiration” and adding that his “gratitude is endless.”Cook also said he was looking forward to the “next chapter” as he prepares to step down from the CEO role.— tim_cook (@tim_cook) Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees that he will miss the role of chief executive officer but has “enormous comfort” in the leadership of his replacement, John Ternus, according to a Bloomberg report.He penned a note in an email to all employees on Monday, his final day as CEO.“As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply,” Cook said in his email, as accessed by Bloomberg. “I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision.”On Ternus, he said that “few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.”Here is Cook’s final memo to all employees as CEO, as published by Bloomberg:Team,Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day.Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.With all I have and all I am, I am always.Yours,Tim— markgurman (@markgurman) Why is Tim Cook resigning?Earlier in April, Cook told employees that three key conditions had finally aligned: a strong business, a well-filled product pipeline, and John Ternus being ready to take over.Speaking at an all-hands meeting in the Steve Jobs Theatre, he said all three factors had come together at the same time. “These three things all intersected and they intersect now. And so now was the time"The Apple chief clarified that he wanted the transition to be handled in a very structured way. He told the company staff that he aimed for “a textbook succession plan, the best in the world”—and even joked that business schools might one day study it.The outgoing chief said the timing made sense given Apple’s performance and internal readiness, describing it as a planned and deliberate handover rather than a sudden decision.“There can only be one CEO at a time,” said Cook, adding that he will support Ternus as he takes on the top role. Cook also said he would not step away completely, but would shift focus towards Apple’s global government and geopolitical relationships, an area in which he has built long-standing connections with leaders in the United States, China, and other countries.John Ternus to lead Apple into the age of AIJohn Ternus is set to take over as Apple’s chief executive on Tuesday, ending Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure and placing the company’s hardware chief at the helm as Apple faces a growing gap with rivals in artificial intelligence.Ternus, 51, joined Apple’s design team in 2001 and rose to senior vice president of hardware engineering, leading the teams behind the company’s entire product lineup, including the iPhone. While some analysts had viewed software chief Craig Federighi as a more natural choice for a company seeking to catch up in AI, others argue that Ternus’ hardware expertise could be crucial to Apple’s next phase.Ternus is expected to build on Apple’s existing hardware strengths while maintaining the supply chain strategy developed under Cook. Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies, told AFP that consumers continue to adopt technology through hardware, making Ternus’ experience relevant to Apple’s AI ambitions.The bigger challenge will be stepping into Cook’s role on the global stage.Ternus inherits Apple’s complex manufacturing network, which remains heavily dependent on China, while facing political pressure from the White House over overseas production.Cook becomes executive chairman of Apple’s board, with a mandate that includes engaging policymakers around the world. Ternus, meanwhile, gets barely a week before Apple’s September 9 iPhone event, where the company is expected to unveil its first foldable handset — making it his first major public test as CEO.