John Ternus sent his first staff memo as Apple’s chief executive officer on September 1, previewing an upcoming product unveiling scheduled for September 9, according to reporting by TechCrunch.
Addressing employees on his first day in the post, Ternus thanked staff for their warm wishes and set expectations for the presentation. "I’m honored to be stepping into this role at what is truly the greatest company in the world, and I am so excited about everything we have in store," Ternus wrote. "We have a huge launch next week that’s going to be phenomenal. Thanks for everything you’ve all done to make it possible."
Apple is expected to introduce its latest smartphone hardware at the September 9 event. Expected devices include a rumored foldable iPhone Ultra alongside new iPhone 18 Pro models.
Looking past the immediate calendar, the memo pointed to future hardware pipelines. In the note, first reported by Bloomberg, Ternus wrote of "the incredible products already in the works and the ones we haven’t even imagined yet that we’ll dream up and create together." He added: "There’s no team in the world I’d rather build the future with." Future hardware explored across the company includes camera-equipped AirPods, home robotics, and expanded OLED displays.
Former chief executive Tim Cook is stepping into the role of Apple's executive chairman. Ternus expressed appreciation to Cook for sharing guidance during the leadership transition, commending his predecessor for years of service and leadership guided by decency and personal values.
