Jeff Williams, who has been Apple’s Chief Operating Officer for 15 years, is all set to step down from the COO position later this month. The name that pops up as his potential successor is Sabih Khan, one of Apple’s long-term servants. Williams will continue reporting to Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, and he will oversee the company’s design team and Apple Watch along with their health initiatives.
Sabih Khan, a 30-year company veteran currently working as the senior vice president of operations, will take over the COO role at the end of this month, the iPhone maker announced in their official press release.
Jeff Williams’s 27-Year Journey at Apple Comes to an End
Jeff Williams has been serving as Apple’s Chief Operating Officer since 2010. He joined Apple in 1998 and played an important role in managing and developing the company’s global supply chain and product development. He led the launch and growth of Apple Watch and created Apple’s undisputed health strategy. Williams made another significant contribution to the company by taking over the industrial design group after Jony Ive stepped down in 2019.
The new changes in Apple are mainly due to recent challenges in the supply chain and the market demand to adapt to global changes. This transition is the beginning of an era for Apple’s leadership system, with the team directly reporting to Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple.
Tim Cook stated on Williams’s retirement that he and Jeff had worked alongside each other for as long as he could remember, and that Apple would not be what it is without him. He mentioned that Jeff had helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world, launched the Apple Watch, and overseen its development, architected Apple’s health strategy, and led their world-class team of designers with great wisdom, heart, and dedication. Cook expressed that he was and would always be beyond grateful for Jeff’s numerous contributions to Apple over the years and his loyal friendship. He added that Jeff’s true legacy could be seen in the amazing team he had created and, while he would be greatly missed, he left the work of the future in incredible hands.
Jeff Williams expressed that he had a deep love for Apple and mentioned that working with all the amazing people at the company had been a privilege of a lifetime. He stated that he couldn’t thank Tim enough for the opportunity, his inspirational leadership, and their friendship over the years. He noted that June marked his 27th anniversary with Apple and his 40th year in the industry.
He added that beginning the following year, he planned to spend more time with friends and family, including five grandchildren and counting. He conveyed that he had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years and believed that Sabih was the most talented operations executive on the planet. Furthermore, he expressed tremendous confidence in Apple’s future under Sabih’s leadership in that role.
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Apple Names Sabih Khan as the New COO
Sabih Khan, who has been a loyal servant at Apple for 30 years and is currently working as the senior vice president of operations, will replace Jeff Williams and take his new role later this month. Sabih Khan is one of the long-time employees who joined in 1995 and contributed a lot to the company’s growth and success is a worthy character for the role of COO. Khan has been in charge of Apple’s global supply chain for the last six years; during this period, he managed to ensure product quality, oversee planning, manufacturing, procurement, logistics, and product fulfilment functions. In 2019, he took over as Senior Vice President of Operations and did well in that sector. The whole Apple community is excited to see what this 30-year Apple veteran can bring to the table.
Tim Cook opined that Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain. He mentioned that while overseeing Apple’s supply chain, Sabih has helped to pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint in the United States, and ensured that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges. Cook added that Sabih has advanced their ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping to reduce Apple’s carbon footprint by more than 60 per cent. Above all, he noted that Sabih leads with his heart and values, and he believes that Sabih will make an exceptional chief operating officer.
Khan has worked closely with Cook in the early days, and he is one of the best masterminds in the company. His vast experience in technical leadership in GE Plastics makes him one of the best technical leaders in the world and a perfect replacement for Jeff Williams, who is a 27-year company veteran.
