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\n\tTim Cook, who will pass Apple\u2019s CEO baton to John Ternus September 1, brought the executive along to the company\u2019s earnings call today to say a quick hello.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe have an incredible roadmap ahead. And while you\u2019re not going to get me to talk about the details of that roadmap, suffice it to say this is the most exciting time in my 25-year career at Apple to be building products and services,\u201d Ternus told analysts after the tech giant posted a blowout March quarter. \u201cI couldn\u2019t be more optimistic about what\u2019s to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tCook noted that this was his 59th<\/sup> earnings call and said that after 28 years at Apple, 15 as chief executive, it was time for a change. He\u2019ll step up to executive chairman and said, \u201cI very much look forward to it.\u201d When he was named to succeed Steve Jobs at the helm. Apple\u2019s iconic founder famously told him, \u201cNever ask what I would do, just do what\u2019s right\u201d \u2014 advice he recalled today was incredibly liberating.<\/p>\n \n\tAsked about his own kernel of wisdom for Ternus, the company\u2019s highly regarded head of hardware engineering, Cook said: \u201cI think my advice is that one of the most important decisions you\u2019ll make is where to spend time. And I would spend it where the greatest benefit to the company and the users are. And never forget the North Star for the company. We\u2019re about making the best products in the world that really enrich other people\u2019s lives. And if you keep focusing on that and make your decisions around that, it will produce a great business, and we\u2019ll be able to build more products and do it all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tTernus started at Apple on the product design team in 2001.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe moment for the transition is the right one for a number of reasons,\u201d Cook said. \u201cFirst, our business has been performing extremely well. The first half of this year was very strong, growing double each year over year. Second, our roadmap is incredible, and most importantly, we have the right leader ready to step into the role. As I have said, there\u2019s no one on this planet. I trust more to lead Apple into the future than John Turnus. John is a brilliant engineer, a deep thinker, a person of remarkable character and a born leader. I know he will push us to go further than we think is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tTurnus called Cook \u201cone of the greatest business leaders of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cStepping into the role of CEO is an incredible honor, and it means a great deal to me to have Tim\u2019s trust and confidence \u2026 As you know, one of the hallmarks of Tim\u2019s tenure has been a deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness, and discipline when it comes to the financial decision making of the company. And I want you to know that is something Kevan and I intend to continue when I transition into the role in September,\u201d he said, referring to Apple CFO Kevan Parekh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n