Incoming Apple CEO John Ternus is set to reestablish the influence of the company's design team, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The design group's stature at the executive level has waned over the past decade.
Gurman reports that the design team lost its true seat at Apple's executive table following Jony Ive's exit and the departure of other key talent. During the Cook era, finance and operations increasingly shaped product direction, diminishing the design group's input.
The shift comes as Apple's product development has been more heavily driven by operational and financial considerations. According to sources cited by Gurman, Ternus views revamping the design team as a top priority for the company's future.
Gurman's analysis suggests Ternus may reset this dynamic, reaffirming the design group's importance. The incoming CEO's focus could reshape how Apple approaches product development across future hardware, including the 2027 iPhone and AirPods.
Some analysts caution that elevating design influence could slow product timelines or increase costs. Gurman's assessment relies on unnamed sources and remains speculative as Ternus has not publicly outlined his priorities.