John Ternus is an American business executive born in 1975, best known for his role at Apple Inc., where he has been the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering since 2021. In this position, he reports directly to CEO Tim Cook and oversees the company's hardware engineering teams, playing a pivotal role in the development of Apple's iconic product lineup, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and emerging technologies like Apple Silicon. Ternus joined Apple in 2001 as a mechanical engineer after graduating from the University of Michigan, quickly rising through the ranks due to his technical expertise and leadership in product innovation. His tenure has coincided with significant advancements in Apple's hardware, such as the transition to custom-designed chips and enhanced device performance. Prior to his promotion to SVP, Ternus served as Vice President of Hardware Engineering starting in 2019, where he managed key aspects of product design and manufacturing. His low-profile yet influential presence within Apple has earned him recognition as a potential successor to Tim Cook, with industry observers noting his calm demeanor and deep engineering background. Ternus maintains a private personal life, with limited public information available about his family or early years, focusing instead on his professional contributions to one of the world's most valuable companies.