Apple has announced the appointment of Indian-origin executive Sabih Khan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), succeeding Jeff Williams. This significant promotion places Khan at the helm of Apple’s sprawling global operations, especially in world where artificial intelligence is the next big thing.
Khan’s journey at Apple began in 1995 when he joined the procurement group, steadily climbing the ranks to become Senior Vice President of Operations in 2019. In this role, he was instrumental in shaping Apple’s complex global supply chain, overseeing critical functions such as planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and product fulfillment. His responsibilities also included Apple’s crucial supplier responsibility initiatives, focusing on worker protection, education, and environmental sustainability.
Before joining Apple, Khan honed his expertise as an applications development engineer and technical leader at GE Plastics. Academically, he holds dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University and a master’s in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
On his appointment, Apple CEO Tim Cook lauded Khan as a brilliant asset to the company. “Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain. He has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, expanded Apple’s footprint in the US, and pushed forward our environmental goals — cutting Apple’s carbon footprint by over 60 percent. Above all, Sabih leads with heart and integrity, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer,” said Cook.