Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is set to hand over the CEO position to John Ternus, the current Vice President of Engineering, on September 1. Ahead of his departure, Cook made headlines by mentioning his personal life during a farewell event.
On August 24, IT news outlet The Information reported that Apple held a farewell event for Cook at its headquarters, Apple Park, in Cupertino, California, attended by over 200 employees.
The event took place in the company cafeteria, Café Max, and the outdoor central space, featuring a performance by the American band OneRepublic to celebrate Cook's departure. Notable attendees included Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, former Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, Services and Health chief Eddy Cue, and incoming CEO John Ternus, who all delivered tributes.
During his farewell speech, Cook revealed that his partner was present at the event, referring to him as “Mike.” This marks the first time Cook has publicly acknowledged his partner since coming out as gay in 2014, after keeping his personal life private for nearly 12 years.
An Apple representative stated that it is unusual for Cook, who typically does not share details about his private life, to mention his personal affairs.
Following the management transition, Cook is expected to continue supporting the company in specific areas, including serving as chair of the board and collaborating with policymakers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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