What did Sundar Pichai say after Tim Cook's emotional Apple exit post?

The tech world reacted swiftly after Apple confirmed a leadership transition, naming John Ternus as its next CEO. Among those responding was Sundar Pichai, who acknowledged Tim Cook's tenure and welcomed the incoming chief.

Pichai acknowledges Cook's tenure

Following Cook's message on X, Pichai joined industry voices in recognising his leadership. Responding publicly, he wrote, "Congrats on an incredible run Tim Cook, always respected your deep commitment to Apple's mission and best wishes in your new role! Look forward to working with John as well!"

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The message reflected a note of continuity, with Pichai also extending support to John Ternus as he steps into the role.

How did people react?

Reacting to Pichai's post, people gave myriad reactions.

One said, "Wouldn't it be so funny if Tim Cook immediately joined Google like one day after leaving Apple."

"For innovation, call Sundar. For execution and profit, call Tim Cook," said another.

"Silicon Valley friendship level: sending congratulations while secretly checking whose stock went up more," said one user.

One user wrote, "It's now up to Ternus to position the company to capitalize heavily on AI be it from an infra point of view, competing with models, or embedding AI into Apple's products much more extensively."

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One said, "Tim really cooked with Apple, the best way to take a company from good to great in financial and marketing terms."

"Well said leadership that blends vision with discipline is rare. Wishing Tim continued impact in whatever comes next, and looking forward to seeing how John builds on such a strong foundation," said another.

Cook's message to users

After Apple announced the succession, Cook shared a post addressing customers and followers. “I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and thank you for believing in me to lead the company that has always put you at the center of our work. This is not goodbye. It’s a hello to John and I can’t wait for you to get to know him like I do!” he tweeted.

The message signalled a transition rather than a complete departure, with Cook emphasising his confidence in the new leadership.

Reflecting on his time as CEO

In a separate statement, Cook spoke about his years at the company and what the role meant to him. "It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," he said.

He added, "I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world."

With Ternus set to take charge, Apple enters a new phase, even as tributes for Cook's leadership continue across the tech industry.