Apple's product event on Wednesday marked the first public appearance of John Ternus as chief executive, the company's first new CEO in more than a decade. Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook, opened proceedings with a brief address and received a standing ovation, offering an early indication of how he intends to present himself as he takes charge of one of the world's most scrutinised companies.

Ternus is a long-serving product executive who has spent over twenty years at Apple, having worked under both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook. His promotion comes amid wider leadership changes at the company following the departure of several senior executives, with Cook remaining involved as executive chairman of the board. Ternus now faces significant challenges, including proving Apple's competitiveness in artificial intelligence, managing RAM shortages, and navigating a difficult geopolitical landscape.