Editor’s Note
This article has been updated to clarify that Sabih Khan’s promotion to COO follows Jeff Williams’s announced retirement, in a transition Apple describes as a “long planned succession.”
Sabih Khan, a long-time Apple veteran, will take over for COO Jeff Williams who announced his coming retirement next month. Khan has served under Williams for six years, managing the tech giant’s supply chain and logistics. Apple named a new operational czar after longtime chief operating officer Jeff Williams announced his impending retirement Tuesday. The company promoted Sabih Khan to Williams’ role in what it called a “long planned succession.”
Khan, a 30-year Apple veteran, is rising to COO at a pivotal time for the company. President Donald Trump’s trade policies have significantly impacted Apple’s global supply chain and manufacturing operations. Trump-led tariffs on China and other countries where Apple products are manufactured have added a financial strain to the company. As a result, the business has been actively diversifying its supply chain, shifting some production out of China to countries like India and Vietnam to mitigate tariff impacts. All the while, Trump has called on Apple to move its manufacturing operations into the United States, threatening 25% tariffs on their products should it not comply. Apple has since pledged $500 billion in investments to expand its U.S. facilities.
Despite global pressures on the company, Apple appears confident in Khan’s ability to weather the current business climate’s enumerable challenges.
Wall Street tech analyst Dan Ives expressed similar confidence in Khan’s promotion.
Khan, who joined Apple in 1995, is currently the senior vice president of operations. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, India, Khan’s educational background is in mechanical engineering and economics. He received bachelor’s degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Prior to joining Apple, Khan started his career as an engineer at GE Plastics.
Since 2019, Khan has overseen Apple’s global supply chain and ensured product quality. Khan’s responsibilities also include managing Apple’s planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and product-fulfillment duties, and the company’s supplier responsibility programs that “protect and educate workers at production facilities around the world.”