Indian American long-time executive Sabih Khan has reportedly been named as Apple’s new Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Jeff Williams.
Khan, who’s been with Apple for nearly 30 years and currently leads operations as senior vice president, is set to step into the COO role later this month. His promotion comes as Williams is expected to retire by year-end. Until then, Williams would look after “Apple’s world-class design team and Apple Watch alongside the company’s Health initiatives,” said the company press release.
Khan had joined Apple’s executive team in 2019 and has been leading the company’s global supply chain for the past six years. Khan’s been responsible for making sure Apple products meet high quality standards and get delivered smoothly. He also oversees planning, manufacturing, shipping, and supplier management.
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While talking about the transition, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook applauded Khan, saying, “Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain.”
Cook further added, “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. He has advanced our ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping reduce Apple’s carbon footprint by more than 60 percent”.
Williams, who will stay on and report to Cook until he retires, is widely seen as the architect of Apple’s global supply chain, expanding it across key regions like China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. Over the years, he played a major role in launching iconic products like the iPod and iPhone, and led the development of the Apple Watch over a decade ago. Even he helped Apple to enter healthcare sector through his strategic vision.
“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. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years and I think he’s the most talented operations executive on the planet. I have tremendous confidence in Apple’s future under his leadership in this role,” said Williams.
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This leadership change comes at a time when Apple is facing slowing iPhone sales and adapting to changing global trade dynamics. As the company works to reduce its reliance on China and expand manufacturing in India, Khan’s Indian background and deep understanding of global operations are seen as real strengths.
Khan holds degrees in both economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts, plus a master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. His family had migrated to Singapore in his early childhood and later, relocated to the U.S. He joined Apple’s procurement group in 1995.