Tim Cook: 'I hope to be remembered as a good and kind person'

Before the transition period to his successor John Ternus, Tim Cook gave an interview to CBS News, during the opening of Apple's new Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston, USA.

When asked about his personal legacy during his 15 years leading the technology giant in Cupertino, Cook expressed humility: "In my opinion, legacy is something that should be described by others, not said by yourself. I just hope people will say I'm a good and kind person. If at the end of the road and they say that, I feel like I've achieved something."

According to 9to5Mac, looking back at the path leading Apple since 2011, analysts say Cook's legacy lies not only in the trillions of dollars in capitalization, new products like the Apple Watch, or the growth of the services segment, but also in the philosophy of making Apple a force for good. Under his watch, Apple promoted its commitment to environmental protection, renewable energy and corporate diversification policies.

In the same interview, Apple Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan also explained the pressure to adjust prices on the iPhone, iPad and Mac product lines. He said the industry is facing unprecedented increases in memory chip prices, forcing the company to work closely with the supply chain to find solutions to cool down.

From September 1, John Ternus will officially become Apple CEO. Tim Cook took over Apple right before the launch of iPhone 4S and Siri virtual assistant, and Ternus took office at a new historical milestone, when Apple is expected to announce the first folding screen iPhone model with Siri fully integrated with AI.

Unlike Tim Cook's polite, careful and traditional style of the American South, the new CEO is considered open, straightforward and energetic. However, observers believe that both share the same principle of putting work and the Apple team before individuals to build their own legacy.