All eyes in the tech world are on Cupertino. As Tim Cook’s term draws to a close, a surprising and exciting candidate has emerged as the Apple CEO.

An old legend is in the spotlight for the Apple CEO position

According to reports from the Financial Times and Bloomberg, Apple has accelerated its preparations for a leadership change expected to take place in the second half of 2026. Until now, John Ternus, head of hardware engineering, was considered the most likely candidate for the position. However, new rumors suggest the spotlight may be on another long-standing legend at the company.

Tony Fadell, the creator and “father” of the iPod, is rumored to be eager for the Apple CEO position and has given the green light to return to his former home. Fadell, who left Apple in 2010, later founded Nest, a smart home technology company, and achieved great success by selling this venture to Google for $3.2 billion in 2014.

Currently, John Ternus remains the frontrunner due to his position within the company and his ability to meet Tim Cook’s criteria. Apple’s marketing teams are also known to be working diligently to promote Ternus to the public. However, the candidacy of Tony Fadell, a visionary with deep understanding of the company’s DNA, has generated considerable excitement in the tech community.

Apple has a busy product schedule in the coming years, including new Mac models with M5 processors, the iPhone 17 series, and devices with displays for home automation. Who takes the helm during this critical period will directly impact the company’s future.

So, what are your thoughts on the Apple CEO position? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!