Apple is experiencing significant leadership changes as CEO Tim Cook prepares to step down, with several top executives following suit. Among the notable departures is Phil Schiller, a longtime Apple executive who has overseen the App Store since 2015. Schiller, who has been with Apple since 1987 except for a brief break, is stepping down from leading the App Store but will remain at the company as an Apple Fellow, a prestigious role recognizing his technical and leadership contributions. However, sources suggest this transition is a step toward his eventual retirement.

Schiller played a key role in navigating Apple through the high-profile legal battle with Epic Games, which challenged the App Store’s in-app purchase fees and alleged monopoly practices. Although a judge ruled largely in Apple’s favor, the company was ordered to allow developers to link to external payment options. This ongoing lawsuit was a significant part of Schiller’s tenure managing the App Store. Following his departure from day-to-day responsibilities, Carson Oliver, a 14-year Apple veteran specializing in the App Store, will take over operational duties. Additionally, the App Store's oversight will shift from Apple’s marketing department to the services division led by Eddy Cue.

The wave of top-level exits at Apple does not stop with Schiller. Recently, COO Jeff Williams retired after 27 years with the company, and other executives like Lisa Jackson, vice president for Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, and general counsel Kate Adams also stepped down in late 2025. Jennifer Bailey, who has led Apple Pay for over two decades, is scheduled to retire in October 2026. Moreover, Paul Meade, vice president in charge of the Vision Pro headset, left for OpenAI earlier this year, precipitating a downsizing of the Vision Pro team.

As Apple welcomes John Ternus as its new CEO, he faces the challenge of filling the leadership void and steering the company through a critical transition period. The exit of these key figures marks the end of an era and the beginning of a reshaping phase for Apple’s executive ranks. Ternus will be tasked with maintaining Apple’s innovation momentum while rebuilding a new generation of corporate leaders to navigate the company’s future.