Apple’s new CEO is already cutting managers and pushing for more products, faster. John Ternus, who took the top job in 2026, is pursuing an engineering-focused overhaul that could reshape how Apple builds and releases hardware, according to Bloomberg reporting from September 29.
The moves come within weeks of Ternus replacing Tim Cook, and the contrast in background is notable. Cook built his reputation on supply-chain discipline; Ternus is a mechanical engineer with a career rooted in hardware development since joining Apple in 2001.
Ternus earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania before joining Apple’s product-design team. He led hardware engineering as vice president starting in 2013 and was elevated to senior vice president in 2021, overseeing the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
Apple’s hardware-engineering division dismissed a number of engineering program managers, known as EPMs, over the previous two weeks, Bloomberg reported. Approximately six directors were among those affected, placing the cuts at a senior level of the organization.
Those employees reportedly have several weeks to find other positions within Apple. Anyone who does not secure an internal role could face a layoff later in 2026, according to Bloomberg. For context on how Apple handles sensitive internal data for ex-employees, see recent reporting on iCloud access controls.
EPMs coordinate development schedules, manage timelines, and organize work across teams. Their removal redistributes those responsibilities across an organization already being pushed to move faster, according to the available reporting.
Bloomberg also reported that Ternus wants Apple to release more products more frequently. The reported shift would move Apple away from its traditional spring-and-fall release windows toward launches spread across the full calendar year.
Ternus reportedly argued in an internal presentation that Apple should accomplish more with fewer employees. One person familiar with the situation told Bloomberg, “Everything is a lot more hands-on than it used to be. It’s hectic right now.” Bloomberg and other outlets characterized these as early ideas under consideration, not finalized policy.
On the customer-support side, Apple reportedly considered replacing approximately 5,000 AppleCare support jobs with AI-powered agents. That plan has reportedly been put on hold, and the proposed layoffs are not currently moving forward, according to available reporting.
Ternus is also reportedly working with services chief Eddy Cue and CFO Kevan Parekh to grow Apple’s services revenue and launch new offerings. No specific services have been identified or confirmed in the available reporting.
Reuters reported that Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the restructuring.
If Ternus follows through on these reported plans, the Apple product calendar you have relied on for upgrade decisions could look meaningfully different within the coming year. That outcome remains unconfirmed; Bloomberg’s sources describe the proposals as early-stage ideas, not a finalized roadmap.
