In a lighthearted behind-the-scenes look at Apple’s executive transition, outgoing CEO Tim Cook revealed that he introduced incoming CEO John Ternus to global cartoon character Pikachu during a high-profile campus visit. With Cook preparing to step down from the helm of the tech giant next week, he has spent recent months working closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth leadership handover. As part of that process, Cook hosted the Pokémon creative team at corporate headquarters to discuss the future of gaming across Apple platforms.
Two out of three were accomplished,” Cook said in the post he shared on X (formerly Twitter). A video shared alongside Cook’s announcement documented the electric-type Pokémon exploring the sprawling corporate campus in Cupertino. “Today’s agenda at Apple Park: Introduce the @Pokemon team to John, talk gaming, and politely ask Pikachu to stay out of the pond.
Cook originally met Pikachu in September 2025 during an official visit to Tokyo, Japan, where he celebrated the grand reopening of Apple’s flagship retail store in Ginza.
Meanwhile, Ternus will take charge on September 1 and will present next generation iPhones, likely to be called the iPhone 18, and the company’s first foldable iPhone, at the “Surprise and shine” event on September 9. The clip showed Pikachu dancing beneath the iconic rainbow stage arch and picking fresh fruit in the central Apple Park orchard. The meeting highlighted the software ties between the two entities, with Apple devices hosting several major franchise releases, including Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon Champions, and Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. the encounter marks Cook’s second public rendezvous with the character While the specific business agenda behind the meeting was not officially disclosed. Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.
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