AI Image
Apple CEO John Ternus criticized for 'scripted' approach to first earnings call
9to5Mac • • business
Key Points:
- Despite Apple's record earnings, investors reacted lukewarmly due to the company's cautious outlook on margins for the current quarter and rising expenses related to memory costs and Siri AI data centers.
- New CEO John Ternus faced criticism, particularly from Bloomberg's Dave Lee, who described his first earnings call as "timid" and overly scripted, missing an opportunity to inspire confidence and share his vision for Apple's future.
- Ternus delegated several questions to other executives, including CFO Kevan Parekh and COO Sabih Khan, who will now regularly participate in earnings calls, marking a change in Apple's approach.
- Some commentators, like 9to5Mac, viewed Ternus's measured and optimistic style as appropriate given the transition and compared it favorably to his predecessor's reserved manner.
- Overall, the call highlighted a tension between investor expectations for bold leadership communication and Ternus's cautious, scripted presentation style early in his tenure.
