Cook inherited one of the world’s most-respected retail operations, and built it up. He’s added roughly 200 stores to Apple’s global network and, importantly, expanded its mainland China presence dramatically. Apple now has 50 stores across locations like Chongqing, Guangdong, Hubei and Yunnan, reaching vastly more consumers in the world’s biggest market for smartphones and PCs. Apple’s success in China stands out among US Big Tech peers, with many like Google and Meta Platforms Inc. largely shut out from the consumer arena.