Apple’s ‘Central Supply Chain Architect’: Sabih Khan of Indian Origin Takes Over as COO

In a major leadership shift at one of the most influential tech companies globally, Sabih Khan — an Indian-American executive originally from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh — is set to become the next Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Apple.

The announcement was made via an official press release on July 8 and is part of a long-planned succession strategy. Khan will take over from longtime Apple executive Jeff Williams by the end of this month.

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Currently Apple’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Khan brings nearly three decades of experience at the company.

“Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “While overseeing Apple’s supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint in the United States, and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges.”

In addition to operational expertise, Khan has also led Apple’s efforts in environmental sustainability and ethical sourcing. “He has advanced our ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping reduce Apple’s carbon footprint by more than 60 percent,” Cook continued. “Above all, Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer.”

Jeff Williams, who has served as COO since 2015, will remain at Apple until his retirement later this year. During this time, he will continue reporting to CEO Tim Cook while overseeing Apple’s design team and its expanding health-related initiatives, including the Apple Watch. Upon his retirement, the design team will report directly to Cook.

Expressing strong confidence in Khan’s leadership, Williams said, “I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years and I think he’s the most talented operations executive on the planet.”

Khan holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and a master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He joined Apple’s procurement team in 1995 after working at GE Plastics as an applications development engineer and key account technical leader.