Tim Cook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim Cook
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Cook in 2023
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Timothy Donald Cook
November 1, 1960 Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
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| Education | Auburn University (BS) Duke University (MBA) |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Employer | Apple Inc. (1998–present) |
| Title | CEO of Apple Inc. (2011–present) |
| Board member of | Nike, Inc. |
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Timothy Donald Cook (born November 1, 1960) is an American business leader. He is the current chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple Inc.. Before becoming CEO, Cook was the company's chief operating officer. He worked under Apple's co-founder, Steve Jobs. Cook joined Apple in March 1998. He started as a senior vice president for worldwide operations.
As Apple's CEO, Cook has supported important changes. These include better cybersecurity and protecting the environment. He also helped bring more manufacturing jobs to the U.S. Cook changed Apple's work style. He made it more open and team-focused.
Since 2011, Apple has grown a lot under Cook. The company's income and profits have doubled. Its value increased from $348 billion to $1.9 trillion by 2020. In 2023, Apple was the biggest tech company by income. It made over $394 billion.
Outside of Apple, Cook is on the board of Nike, Inc.. He also helps lead the National Football Foundation. He is a trustee at Duke University, where he studied. Cook also gives a lot to charity. In 2015, he said he planned to donate most of his money to good causes.
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Early Life and Education
Tim Cook was born on November 1, 1960. His hometown is Mobile, Alabama. He grew up in a nearby town called Robertsdale. His father, Donald Cook, worked at a shipyard. His mother, Geraldine Cook, worked at a pharmacy. Cook finished Robertsdale High School in 1978. He was the second-best student in his class.
Cook went to Auburn University. He earned a degree in industrial engineering in 1982. Later, he got a business degree (MBA) from Duke University in 1988.
Career Journey
Before Joining Apple
After college, Cook worked at IBM for 12 years. He managed how computers were delivered in North America. During this time, he also earned his MBA from Duke University. He was a top student there.
Later, he became the chief operating officer for Intelligent Electronics. This company sold computers. In 1997, he worked for Compaq for six months. He was in charge of corporate materials. Then, he moved to Apple.
Working at Apple
Starting at Apple
In 1998, Steve Jobs asked Cook to join Apple. Cook said he felt it was a special chance. He decided to join after meeting Jobs. He felt it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." He wanted to help bring a great American company back to life.
Cook's first job at Apple was senior vice president for worldwide operations. He made big changes. He closed many factories and warehouses. Instead, he used other companies to make Apple's products. This helped Apple save money. It also made sure products were available quickly.
Cook's team also invested early in flash memory. This was important for products like the iPod Nano, iPhone, and iPad. His work helped Apple control costs. This led to huge profits for the company.
In 2007, Cook was promoted to lead all operations. In 2009, he became chief executive. This happened when Steve Jobs was away due to health issues. In 2011, Jobs took another medical leave. Cook then managed most of Apple's daily work. Jobs still made the biggest decisions.
Leading Apple as CEO
Steve Jobs resigned as CEO on August 24, 2011. Tim Cook was then named the new chief executive officer of Apple Inc. Jobs passed away six weeks later. Experts said that Jobs and Cook had worked well together. They helped Apple grow from a difficult time to a very successful company.
In October 2012, Cook made important changes to Apple's leadership team. Some top executives left or changed roles. These changes happened after Apple's growth slowed down a bit. Cook wanted to make sure the team worked well together.
In 2013, Cook shared his leadership ideas. He focused on people, strategy, and getting things done. He said, "If you get those three right the world is a great place." Under Cook, Apple also gave more money to charity. He hired Lisa Jackson, a former head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She helped Apple with its renewable energy plans.
In 2014, Cook made headlines. He told shareholders to support Apple's views on protecting the environment. If they didn't, he suggested they sell their shares. In 2016, Cook visited China. He met with government officials there. This was after Apple's online stores were closed in China.
Some people compared Cook to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in 2016. They thought that new ideas had slowed down at Apple. In 2017, Cook spoke at the World Internet Conference in China. In 2019, he became chairman of an advisory board for a university in China.
In 2019, some lawmakers criticized Cook. Apple had removed an app used by protesters in Hong Kong. They said Apple was censoring content. Cook explained that the app was used to target police officers. He said this went against Apple's rules.
In 2016, Cook signed a big deal with Chinese officials. This deal led to more censorship by Apple in China. For example, some content was removed. Also, Apple Maps was changed to support China's claims in a land dispute. In August 2021, Cook received a large payment. He sold over five million shares in Apple. This happened ten years after he became CEO.
Public Life and Advocacy
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Tim Cook has supported various causes. He has spoken out for LGBT rights. In 2014, he became the first CEO of a major company to publicly share his personal identity. He said he was proud of who he was. He hoped his openness could help young people. He wanted them to know their situation could get better. He saw his identity as a positive part of his life.
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In 2017, Cook spoke about the DACA immigration program. He said he was unhappy with the government's direction. He felt it was "unacceptable." In 2018, he talked about companies collecting personal data. He said it was like surveillance. He felt it should make people "very uncomfortable." In 2019, President Donald Trump mistakenly called him "Tim Apple." Cook humorously changed his name on Twitter to "Tim Apple."
In January 2025, Cook donated to Donald Trump's inauguration. He also attended the inauguration ceremony. Other well-known business leaders were there too.
Personal Interests
Cook enjoys staying fit. He likes hiking, cycling, and going to the gym. He is known for being a private person. He uses a gym away from Apple for privacy. In 1996, he was wrongly told he had a serious illness. This made him "see the world in a different way." He has since helped raise money for research into that illness.
In 2009, Cook offered to donate part of his liver to Steve Jobs. They had a rare blood type match. But Jobs refused the offer. In 2010, Cook gave a speech at Auburn University. He talked about the importance of trusting your gut feelings. He also stressed that hard work is key. In 2015, he joined Duke University's board of trustees. He gave a commencement speech there in 2018.
Awards and Recognition
- Financial Times Person of the Year (2014)
- Ripple of Change Award (2015)
- Fortunes World's Greatest Leader (2015)
- Alabama Academy of Honor: Inductee (2015)
- Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award (2015)
- Honorary Doctor of Science from University of Glasgow (2017)
- Courage Against Hate award from Anti-Defamation League (2018)
- Honorary Master’s degree from University of Naples Federico II (2022)
Images for kids
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Tim Cook's signature
See also
In Spanish: Tim Cook para niños
