Sabih Khan Named Apple’s New COO, Replacing Jeff Williams
In a major leadership shift at Apple, the tech giant has named Sabih Khan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). The announcement was made on Tuesday, with the company confirming that Khan will officially step into the role later this month. He will take over from Jeff Williams, who has served as COO since 2015 and is set to retire later this year.
Khan is a seasoned Apple executive, having spent nearly three decades with the company. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Operations, where he oversees Apple’s vast and complex global supply chain. Known for his low-key but highly efficient leadership, Khan has been instrumental in ensuring the timely production and delivery of Apple products worldwide — a critical role in the company’s continued global dominance.
Apple said the transition is part of a long-planned succession strategy and is expected to be seamless, given Khan’s deep familiarity with the company’s operations, teams, and leadership ethos.
Before joining Apple in 1995, Khan worked at GE Plastics, where he held roles as an applications development engineer and a key account technical leader. His background in engineering and experience managing large-scale supply chains made him a natural fit for Apple’s expanding operations in the mid-1990s and beyond.
Khan holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Economics from Tufts University and a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
As COO, Khan will be responsible for Apple’s global operations, including manufacturing, logistics, product quality, and supply chain sustainability — areas that have become increasingly vital amid growing global economic and geopolitical challenges.
Jeff Williams, one of the most influential leaders at Apple, will remain with the company for the near future and continue reporting to CEO Tim Cook. He will retain his responsibilities over the design team and Apple Watch business during the transition period. Once Williams officially retires, Apple stated that the design team will report directly to Tim Cook.
Williams’ retirement marks the end of an era. Often described as “Tim Cook’s Tim Cook,” he played a key role in Apple’s transition into a services and wearable-driven company after the Steve Jobs era.
Khan’s appointment signals continuity in Apple’s operations leadership, with a focus on maintaining supply chain excellence, sustainability, and global expansion. With nearly 30 years of experience at the company, Khan steps into the role at a time when operational expertise is more important than ever for tech giants navigating a complex global landscape.
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