Tim Cook

Cook has successfully navigated the transition to the post–Steve Jobs era, gradually changing the company’s culture, refocusing its social mission, and even earning praise for the first new-from-scratch product launch (the Apple Watch) of his time. The latest iPhones set yet another first-week record, and their sales—including boffo numbers in China (an overall 84% surge in the Middle Kingdom)—spurred 31% profit growth in the most recent quarter. Under Cook, Apple has debuted services such as Apple Pay and Apple Music. The cumulative result: an eye-popping $53 billion in profits in the past 12 months.