Apple’s hardware Chief leaves post for unnamed new project

Apple Inc. said top hardware executive Dan Riccio is stepping down from his role to lead a new project at the company and John Ternus, one of his top lieutenants, will replace him.

Riccio has been senior vice president of hardware engineering since 2012, overseeing development of the hardware in the iPhone, iPad, Mac and audio products like the AirPods and HomePod. Ternus, who Bloomberg reported last year was poised to replace Riccio, has been vice president of hardware engineering since 2013, and was most recently leading the iPhone, Mac and iPad engineering groups.

Riccio will remain at the company as a vice president of engineering and focus on a new project reporting to Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, the Cupertino, California-based tech giant said Monday in a statement.