The latest round of Apple CEO succession speculation again points to John Ternus as the leading internal candidate, but multiple strong candidates still make it anybody's guess who will helm Apple after Tim Cook retires. John Ternus Apple is stepping up internal succession planning as it prepares for an eventual transition beyond Tim Cook . The effort reflects long-term governance planning rather than dissatisfaction with Apple's performance. Cook, 65, has led Apple since 2011, and the company has a history of managing executive transitions deliberately. Any CEO change will be staged rather than abrupt, giving Apple time to maintain operational and investor stability. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums