What John Ternus told me a decade ago and why I'm convinced he's the CEO Apple needs now

The first time I interviewed John Ternus was a decade ago to discuss the new MacBook. Like the MacBook Neo before it, this tiny, 12-inch, 2-lb laptop was a departure for Apple. It was packed with unusual and innovative design decisions, and John Ternus, who will step in as Apple's CEO in September, was anxious to talk about it.

By then, Ternus had already been at Apple for 15 years and was heading up Mac and iPad hardware. He struck me as smart, affable, and, with some quick wit.

Thinking back to that meeting, and subsequent chats, including our most recent sit-down shortly after Apple unveiled another hardware design stretch — the iPhone Air — I realize that in my quest to understand the kind of Apple CEO Ternus will be, I may already have all the information I need.

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