John Ternus takes a hands-on role in Apple’s design teams, Bloomberg reports

Apple CEO John Ternus has taken a more direct role in the company’s industrial design and human interface teams, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports.

People familiar with the department say Ternus works with the studios several times a week, sometimes visiting more than once in a single day.

The arrangement began before Ternus became CEO about a month ago. After COO Jeff Williams left Apple, the company announced that the design teams would report to former CEO Tim Cook, but Bloomberg reports that Ternus instead handled the responsibility during the transition.

Ternus increases studio involvement

Ternus previously led Apple’s hardware engineering organization and does not have a traditional design-lead background. Bloomberg contrasts his involvement with Cook’s, saying the former CEO visited the studio about once a month.

Apple rebuilds its design teams

Apple is also working to refill design roles after employees moved to other technology companies. Alan Dye joined Meta, while OpenAI recruited several Apple employees; Apple has responded by promoting junior designers and hiring externally.

Apple is not searching for a single replacement for former design chief Jony Ive. Molly Anderson leads industrial design, Steve Lemay leads human interface, and Ternus serves as the final decision-maker for design.