Apple names Indian-origin executive Sabih Khan as new chief operating officer

Apple Inc. has announced a key leadership transition, appointing Sabih Khan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), taking over from Jeff Williams. A veteran at Apple, Khan has been part of the company for nearly 30 years and is currently serving as Senior Vice President of Operations. He will formally assume the role of COO later this month.

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Jeff Williams, who has held the COO position since 2015, will remain with the company for the time being, continuing to lead the Apple Watch and design teams. Once he retires later this year, Apple’s design team will report directly to CEO Tim Cook.

Sabih Khan was born in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, in 1966 and later moved to Singapore during his early years. He completed his higher education in the United States, earning dual undergraduate degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University, followed by a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

Khan began his professional journey at GE Plastics and joined Apple in 1995 as part of the procurement team. Over the decades, he has played a major role in building and strengthening Apple’s global supply chain. He has also led various initiatives around supplier responsibility and operational strategy.

CEO Tim Cook has praised Khan’s leadership, especially highlighting his contributions to reducing Apple’s carbon footprint by over 60%, his innovation in manufacturing processes, and his role in expanding Apple’s production base in the United States. Cook described Khan as a forward-thinking leader who has helped Apple navigate complex global supply challenges.