Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC) has announced that long-serving chief operating officer (COO) Jeff Williams will step down later this year in what is a significant leadership transition at the technology giant. Williams has served as the company's second-in-command under chief executive Tim Cook for nearly a decade and will retire after a period of transition.
Effective later this month, Sabih Khan will assume the role of COO. Khan, currently senior vice president of operations, has been instrumental in building Apple’s global supply chain. His appointment is part of a broader succession plan long in the making, according to the company.
One of Khan’s key responsibilities will be to accelerate the diversification of Apple’s manufacturing operations beyond China, with a focus on expanding capacity in countries such as India.
Williams, 62, will continue to oversee Apple’s design team, the Apple Watch, and the company’s health initiatives until his retirement. Following his departure, the design group will report directly to Cook. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment on who will lead the Apple Watch and health teams after Williams steps down.
The shift marks another evolution in Apple’s leadership structure, particularly in the wake of the 2019 departure of design chief Jony Ive, when Williams took oversight of product design under Cook’s leadership.