Apple Executive Chairman Tim Cook is set to represent Apple at a White House state dinner with the Chinese president next week, according to a Bloomberg report.
Cook stepped down as Apple CEO a few weeks ago, moving into the executive chairman role. At the time, Apple said he would remain with the company and engage "with policymakers around the world."
The dinner appears to be an example of Cooks new role. CEO John Ternus is not expected to attend, as he appears to take on what has so far been a more product-focused public role. Ternus' X account has primarily focused on Apple launches, including the company’s September event and Apple TV’s Emmy wins.
Cook's public presence has always been a lot broader. Alongside Apple news, he often posts about major current events and observances, including the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks last week, as well as Christmas, Chinese New Year, Passover and Eid.
The contrast shows a split of responsibilities at the top of Apple: Ternus is the public face of Apple’s products and services, while Cook remains the company’s most experienced and well-known representative in political and diplomatic settings. Apple may gradually introduce Ternus to more high-profile events over time, but Cook’s established relationships in Washington could be valuable to Apple during the rest of President Donald Trump’s term.
