Apple Inc. has named India-origin Sabih Khan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), marking a key move in its long-planned leadership transition.
Khan, 58, who has been with Apple for 30 years and is currently the senior vice president of operations, will succeed Jeff Williams later this month, the iPhone maker said in a statement.
He oversees the company’s global supply chain, supplier responsibility programmes, and operations teams.
Over the years, he has played a critical role in delivering Apple’s most innovative products to market and shaping the company’s global operational strategy.
Born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Khan moved with his family to Singapore during his school years before relocating to the United States. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University, followed by a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
Khan joined Apple’s procurement team in 1995 after working at GE Plastics as an applications development engineer and key account technical leader.
Williams, the outgoing COO, will continue to report to CEO Tim Cook and will remain in charge of the design team and Apple Watch until his retirement later this year. After his departure, the design team will report directly to Cook.
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Tim Cook praised Sabih Khan as a key architect of Apple’s supply chain, highlighting his role in driving advanced manufacturing technologies, expanding US manufacturing, and enhancing Apple’s agility amid global challenges.
Cook also added that Khan’s leadership in environmental sustainability has contributed to a more than 60 per cent reduction in Apple’s carbon footprint.
