Apple is gearing up for notable shifts in its board of directors, as two key members approach or surpass the recommended retirement age of 75. Art Levinson, the board chair, will turn 75 in March 2025, making his retirement likely in the near future. An announcement about his departure could come as early as February during Apple’s annual shareholder meeting. Levinson, a former CEO and chairman of Genentech and the current CEO of Alphabet’s Calico Life Sciences, has been part of Apple’s board since 2010.
Levinson’s retirement could pave the way for Apple CEO Tim Cook, now 64, to step into the chairman role by 2026, potentially signaling the beginning of his own retirement plans. Alternatively, Cook might appoint another current or incoming board member to the position.
Apple has a policy recommending retirement at 75, but it isn’t always strictly enforced. For instance, Ronald Sugar, a longtime board member and former Northrop Grumman executive, was granted an exception in 2024. However, his extended tenure may soon come to an end, leaving Apple with the task of finding two new board members.
If Cook chooses to remain solely as CEO, Apple may conduct a global search to fill these roles. However, should Cook take on the chairman position, he would follow a growing trend among tech leaders. Notable examples include Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, who transitioned to board chair after stepping down as CEO.
Tim Cook has been with Apple since 1998 and became CEO in 2011, succeeding co-founder Steve Jobs. Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has maintained its position as one of the world’s most influential companies. These board changes could mark the beginning of a new era for the tech giant.