Apple has announced a transition in its executive team, with Jeff Williams set to step down from his role as chief operating officer later this month. Sabih Khan, currently Apple’s senior vice president of Operations, will take over the position as part of a long-planned succession. Williams will continue to report to Apple CEO Tim Cook and oversee Apple’s design team and Apple Watch initiatives until his retirement later this year. After his retirement, the design team will report directly to Cook.
Tim Cook expressed gratitude for Williams’ contributions: “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.” He praised Williams for creating a respected global supply chain, launching the Apple Watch, architecting Apple’s health strategy, and leading the design team.
Cook also commended Khan’s strategic skills: “Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain.” Khan has overseen Apple’s supply chain expansion in the United States and advanced environmental sustainability efforts by reducing Apple’s carbon footprint by more than 60 percent.
Khan joined Apple 30 years ago and became senior vice president of Operations in 2019. He has managed Apple’s global supply chain for six years, focusing on product quality, procurement, manufacturing logistics, and supplier responsibility programs. These programs aim to protect workers at production facilities worldwide while supporting green manufacturing initiatives.
Williams played a significant role in expanding Apple’s supply chain globally and led efforts on major products like iPod and iPhone. He was instrumental in developing the Apple Watch and architecting the company’s health strategy. Reflecting on his career at Apple, Williams said: “I have a deep love for Apple… June marked my 27th anniversary with Apple.”
Before joining Apple’s procurement group in 1995, Khan worked at GE Plastics as an applications development engineer. He holds degrees from Tufts University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
