Apple broadened the responsibilities of hardware engineering chief John Ternus. He now oversees the company's design teams.
This move cements Ternus as the most probable successor to CEO Tim Cook. Ternus has been with Apple for over two decades.
Ternus was instrumental in developing key products, including the transition to Apple Silicon for Macs. The influential design division was previously led by figures like Jony Ive.
The expansion marks a significant step in Apple's long-term leadership planning. CEO Tim Cook, who turned 65 in November 2025, has not publicly announced retirement plans.