John Ternus sends first memo as Apple CEO teasing a ‘huge launch next week’

# John Ternus sends first memo as Apple CEO teasing a ‘huge launch next week’ Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/987583/apple-john-ternus-staff-memo](https://www.theverge.com/tech/987583/apple-john-ternus-staff-memo) [](https://www.theverge.com/authors/stevie-bonifield) Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech\. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI\. New Apple CEO John Ternus sent out his first staff memo, thanking[his predecessor Tim Cook](https://www.theverge.com/tech/986832/read-tim-cooks-final-message-as-ceo-to-apple-staff), and quickly turning to what the company will do next, reports[*Bloomberg*](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-01/apple-ternus-touts-product-pipeline-phenomenal-sept-9-iphone-launch-in-memo)\. “We have a huge launch next week that’s going to be phenomenal\. Thanks for everything you’ve all done to make it possible,” writes Ternus, referring to the[September 9th event](https://www.theverge.com/tech/983407/apple-iphone-launch-event-2026-date)where Apple’s expected to unveil new iPhones including the rumored[foldable iPhone Ultra](https://www.theverge.com/tech/907856/iphone-fold-dummy-design-delay-production)and iPhone 18 Pro models\. Ternus also hints at “incredible products already in the works and the ones we haven’t even imagined yet,” presumably moving beyond[camera\-equipped AirPods](https://www.theverge.com/tech/981326/apple-airpods-with-cameras-demo-video-leak), home robots, and even more[OLED displays](https://www.theverge.com/tech/966535/apple-oled-ipad-mini-rumor)\. > Team, Today, on my first day as CEO, I just wanted to send a quick note to thank everyone for the warm wishes\. I also want to extend my deep appreciation to Tim for sharing so much of his knowledge and experience during this transition, and more importantly, for everything he contributed to Apple over the years\. We’re so lucky to have had a CEO who led with his values and with such decency and humanity\. We are all better for it and I’m so grateful he’ll be our executive chairman\. I’m honored to be stepping into this role at what is truly the greatest company in the world, and I am so excited about everything we have in store\. We have a huge launch next week that’s going to be phenomenal\. Thanks for everything you’ve all done to make it possible\. I’m just as excited about what lies beyond that, including the incredible products already in the works and the ones we haven’t even imagined yet that we’ll dream up and create together\. There’s no team in the world I’d rather build the future with\. More to come\. In the meantime, thanks for your excellent work\! John **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Stevie Bonifield