Johny Srouji weighs leaving Apple, raising stakes for the Israeli executive who built its silicon program
According to Bloomberg, Srouji has informed CEO Tim Cook that he is considering leaving in the near future and has also told colleagues that he intends to join another company if he ultimately decides to step away. Cook is reportedly attempting to keep him at the company, offering substantial compensation and even the possibility of naming him Apple’s future CTO.
Apple is confronting the prospect of losing one of the most consequential executives behind its modern hardware renaissance. Israeli Johny Srouji, the senior vice president who built the company’s silicon program and oversees its hardware technologies group, has informed CEO Tim Cook that he is considering leaving in the near future, according to Bloomberg. Srouji is the most senior Israeli at the company and a central figure in the multi-year effort that moved Apple from Intel chips to its own highly regarded M-series processors.
According to Bloomberg, Srouji has also told colleagues that he intends to join another company if he ultimately decides to step away, underscoring the seriousness of the discussions. Cook, aware of the strategic weight Srouji carries, has been attempting to keep him at the company, offering substantial compensation and even the possibility of naming him Apple’s future chief technology officer.
His potential exit comes at a moment of unusual volatility inside Apple’s senior ranks. The recent retirement of former COO Jeff Williams was followed by the news that AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down. The head of design, Alan Dye, has departed for Meta. On Thursday, Apple revealed yet another shift: Lisa Jackson, who leads environment, policy, and social initiatives, will retire in late January 2026, and Jennifer Newstead, currently Meta’s chief legal officer, will replace Kate Adams as general counsel when Adams retires “late next year.”
Srouji, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from the Technion, began his career at Intel in 1992, holding senior engineering and management positions before moving to IBM in 2005. He joined Apple in 2008, where he spearheaded the transition of Apple’s Mac line from Intel processors to chips developed under his leadership. This move significantly improved the performance and battery life of Apple devices, marking a notable setback for Intel. Srouji was previously considered for Intel’s CEO role following Krzanich's resignation in 2019, but the board ultimately chose Pat Gelsinger.
The news on Srouji comes on the back of the growing indications that Tim Cook, who has served as Apple’s CEO for 14 years, is reportedly preparing to step down next year. The leading candidate to succeed him is John Ternus, who has appeared at several of Apple’s product launches in recent years, including the unveiling of the latest iPhone.
