What Will Apple's New COO, Sabih Khan, Bring to the Role?
Apple has announced that Sabih Khan is set to replace Jeff Williams as Chief Operating Officer later this month, with the former SVP completing what was viewed as a "long-planned succession" within the technology giant's executive ranks.
Jeff, who served as COO from 2015, is set to retire later this year but will continue reporting to CEO Tim Cook while overseeing Apple's design team and Apple Watch division.
When he retires, the design team will come under the purview of the CEO.
Who is Sabih Khan?
Sabih has been with Apple for three decades, having first joined the firm in 1995.
He first joined Apple's executive team in 2019, when he became the company's Senior Vice President of Operations.
For the past six years, he has overseen Apple's global supply chain, managing product quality and supervising planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics and product fulfilment functions.
He has also taken charge of Apple's supplier responsibility programmes, which focus on protecting and educating workers at the company's production facilities around the world.
"Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple's supply chain," says Tim Cook.
"While overseeing Apple's supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple's manufacturing footprint in the United States and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges."
In recent years, Sabih's tenure at Apple has been characterised by a focus on environmentalism.
Under his leadership, Apple's operations team has managed to reduce its carbon footprint by 60%, purposely partnering with suppliers that support the team's goals around sustainable manufacturing and resource conservation.
Before joining Apple's procurement group, Sabih worked as an Applications Development Engineer at GE Plastics.
He holds two Bachelor's degrees in both economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University, as well as a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The legacy of Jeff Williams
Jeff's tenure at Apple spans 27 years, during which he has played pivotal roles in developing the company's supply chain infrastructure.
His contributions include supporting Apple's global expansion into markets including the United States, China, India, Japan and Southeast Asia.
"Jeff and I have worked alongside each other for as long as I can remember and Apple wouldn't be what it is without him," Tim says.
Jeff led supplier responsibility efforts, established training and education programmes for workers and played key roles in iPod and iPhone development.
His leadership of the Apple Watch project over a decade ago and his role in architecting Apple's health strategy represent significant contributions to the company's product portfolio.
"I have a deep love for Apple. Working with all of the amazing people at this company has been a privilege of a lifetime," Jeff explains.
"June marked my 27th anniversary with Apple and my 40th in the industry. Beginning next year, I plan to spend more time with friends and family, including five grandchildren and counting."
Apple's strategy going forward
The transition reflects Apple's focus on operational continuity as the company navigates global supply chain challenges and manufacturing complexity.
Sabih's extensive experience in supply chain management positions him to address ongoing industry pressures whilst maintaining Apple's manufacturing standards.
The leadership change comes as Apple continues expanding its manufacturing footprint and addressing environmental sustainability targets across its global operations network.
