Apart from being based on more than two decades of creativity, service, and leadership at Apple, the company today confirmed Dan Riccio would take on a new position working on a new project and reporting to the CEO Tim Cook. As a member of the executive team, John Ternus will now direct Apple’s hardware engineers.
“Every innovation that Dan helped Apple bring to life has made us a better and more innovative company, and we are thrilled that it will continue to be part of the team,” said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. “John’s deep knowledge and broad experience make him a bold and innovative leader of our Hardware Engineering teams. I want to congratulate both of them on these exciting new moves, and look forward to many more developments that they can help bring to the world.”
Riccio has been a pioneer in the design, production, and engineering of almost all Apple products. From the first generation of iMac to the more recent 5G iPhone range, M1-based Macs, and AirPods Max, Riccio has developed hardware engineering teams and scaled Apple’s ability to innovate through many new, high-quality product lines.
After joining the company in 1998 as leader of the Software Design team, Riccio became vice president of iPad Hardware Engineering in 2010 and joined the executive team as the leader of Hardware Engineering in 2012. Riccio will continue to play an instrumental role in shaping the future of Apple’s products in his current position as Vice President of Engineering.
“Working at Apple has been a lifetime opportunity to make the world’s best products with the most talented people you can imagine,” Riccio said. “After 23 years of leading our Software Design or Hardware Engineering teams—the culmination of our largest and most ambitious product year ever—it’s the right time for a change. Next up, I’m looking forward to doing what I enjoy most—focusing all my time and resources on Apple on making something fresh and wonderful that I can’t be more excited about.”
John Ternus assumes the position of Hardware Engineering Senior Vice President. Ternus was named to the company’s Product Design team in 2001 and since 2013 has been vice-chairman of Hardware Engineering.
For almost two decades, Ternus has supervised hardware engineering work on a range of leading-edge devices, including AirPods of the first generation and every iPad generation. Most recently, Ternus has led the hardware team responsible for the unbelievable iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro and has led the ongoing Mac-Apple silicone transition. Ternus graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.