Since Jony Ive's departure, Apple has lacked a true design leader. The company apparently isn't looking for a successor – the CEO himself is now filling that role, and far more frequently than his predecessor ever did.
In his latest edition of Power On on Bloomberg, Mark Gurman describes how John Ternus has been working with the two design teams since taking office. According to Gurman, the Apple CEO is personally in the studio several times a week, sometimes multiple times a day. Gurman cites several people familiar with the department.
That Ternus would take control of design was already apparent before he took over the top position. In June, it was reported that he wanted to put Apple's design back at the center. The new report shows for the first time what that looks like in practice after a month as CEO.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Ternus is expected to work in the design studio several times a week, sometimes several times a day.
- According to Bloomberg, Tim Cook visited about once a month.
- Ternus is therefore the ultimate decision-making authority for industrial design and user interface.
- According to the report, the search for an in-house design chief is not currently underway.
- Apple fills vacant positions through promotions and external hires.
Several times a week in the studio
Since taking office, Ternus is said to have been intensively involved in the work of both teams: the industrial design team, which designs the devices, and the human interface design team, which is responsible for the software interfaces.
The difference to Tim Cook is significant. Cook reportedly visited the studio about once a month. According to the report, Ternus made several visits per week, sometimes even several in a row on a single day.
The teams themselves will continue to be led by Molly Anderson in industrial design and Steve Lemay in user interface design. Both have been part of Apple's leadership team since March. However, the overall decisions rest with Ternus.
No new design chief in sight
According to the report, Apple does not intend to fill the position of Chief Design Officer, which Jony Ive held until his departure. A search for such a position is not currently underway.
Instead, Ternus is focusing on filling the gaps in the teams. Apple has lost numerous designers to other companies in recent years. The most significant loss was the departure of UI chief designer Alan Dye to Meta in December 2025. Replacements are being filled through the promotion of junior designers and external hires.
Gurman is one of the best-connected reporters on Apple's leadership issues, and his information on personnel matters has frequently proven accurate in the past. The report is based on multiple sources close to the department, not a single source.
From COO to CEO: Who decides on design at Apple
Responsibility for the design has changed hands several times in the past seven years:
| Time | Who is responsible for the design? |
|---|---|
| June 2019 | Jony Ive announces his departure; the teams move to COO Jeff Williams |
| July 2025 | Apple announces that design teams will report directly to Tim Cook in the future |
| End of 2025 | According to Bloomberg, Ternus will assume operational oversight |
| March 2026 | Molly Anderson and Steve Lemay appear on Apple's leadership page |
| September 1, 2026 | Ternus will become CEO |
| October 2026 | According to the report, Ternus works in the studio himself several times a week |
Officially, the teams were under Cook's control after Jeff Williams' departure, but in reality, they were already under Ternus's. In January, it was stated that Ternus was acting as an executive sponsor for design and not making design decisions alone. Bloomberg now describes him as the one who ultimately decides. At the same time, he is also restructuring the company in other areas, with the goal of making Apple faster and leaner.
A CEO who is also head of design comes at a price
I consider this move a logical step, but not without risk. A CEO who spends several hours a week in the studio makes it clear what a priority design has within the company, especially after years in which it was managed more operationally. For a company that sells its devices based on their design, this sends the right signal.
At the same time, Apple is consolidating a role that previously had a dedicated person, the one with the busiest schedule in the company. Without a design chief, there's no longer a level between the two team leaders and the CEO to represent the studio when Ternus is needed elsewhere. Especially since Apple has lost designers to the competition, such a position would also signal externally that moving to Cupertino is worthwhile again.
Ternus's background is not in design, but in hardware development, which he led for many years. The impact of his influence on devices can only be truly seen in products that were developed entirely under his supervision.
Does Apple need a dedicated design chief again, like Jony Ive once had – or is a CEO who also works in the studio the better solution? Let us know in the comments who you think would lead the studio.
