Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai Hails Tim Cook’s ‘Incredible Run’ As Apple CEO Makes It Clear ‘This Is Not Goodbye’

On Tuesday, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) CEO Sundar Pichai praised Tim Cook’s leadership as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) confirmed a major executive transition that comes at a pivotal moment in the AI race.

Pichai Applauds Cook’s Legacy As Transition Begins

“Congrats on an incredible run,” Pichai said in a post on X, adding that he has “always respected” Cook’s commitment to Apple’s mission and looks forward to working with his successor.

Congrats on an incredible run @tim_cook , always respected your deep commitment to Apple’s mission and best wishes in your new role! Look forward to working with John as well! https://t.co/ecKOcEnNsW

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 21, 2026

Cook earlier responded to the outpouring of support by thanking users and employees.

“This is not goodbye,” Cook said, signaling his continued involvement as executive chairman. “It’s a hello to John.”

I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and thank you for believing in me to lead the company that has always put you at the center of our work. This is not goodbye. It’s a hello to John and I can’t wait for you to get to know him like I do! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Q43QDG3UmZ

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 21, 2026

Apple Names John Ternus As Next CEO

Apple said John Ternus, its longtime hardware chief, will take over as CEO on Sept. 1, 2026. Cook will remain in his role through the summer to ensure a smooth transition following a unanimous board decision.

Ternus, a 25-year veteran of the company, is widely viewed as a steady hand who understands Apple’s culture, but also someone who could accelerate strategic shifts — particularly in artificial intelligence.

Cook’s tenure, which began after Steve Jobs stepped down in 2011, saw Apple expand into services and become one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Apple-Google Partnership Remains Key Amid AI Push

Google reportedly pays Apple billions annually to remain the default search engine on iPhones — a deal that continues to drive significant revenue for both sides.

Earlier this year, the companies expanded into AI collaboration, with Apple selecting Google’s Gemini models to power parts of its new AI features, including upgrades to Siri.

Price Action: Apple shares closed at $266.17 on Tuesday, down 2.52% and edged higher in after-hours trading to $267.65, up 0.56%. Alphabet Inc. Class A shares fell 1.52% and Class C shares also declined, slipping 1.47%, closing at $332.29 and  $330.47, respectively, according to Benzinga Pro.

AAPL sits in the 98th percentile for Quality on Benzinga Edge, underscoring its strong performance across short, medium and long-term trends.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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