Apple has announced the promotion of longtime executive Sabih Khan to Chief Operating Officer, placing him in charge of the iPhone maker’s vast and complex global supply chain at a time of intensifying trade pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
Khan, who joined Apple in 1995, will assume the role at the end of the month, succeeding his current boss Jeff Williams. The company described the move as a “long-planned succession” designed to ensure leadership continuity within its top ranks.
Apple CEO Tim Cook hailed Khan as a “brilliant strategist” and one of the “central architects” behind Apple’s renowned supply chain. “Sabih has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple’s U.S. manufacturing footprint, and ensured that Apple remains agile in the face of global challenges,” Cook said in a statement on Tuesday.
Khan has served as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Operations since 2019, overseeing product quality, planning, logistics, and coordination with Apple’s global manufacturing partners.
His appointment comes at a particularly turbulent time for Apple and other U.S. tech companies, as trade policy once again takes center stage in the political arena. Former President Donald Trump, currently seeking re-election, has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Apple and rival Samsung unless they shift production to the United States. While trade relations between Washington and Beijing have seen occasional improvements, Trump’s unpredictable stance continues to pose a strategic headache for Apple’s international operations.
The company has already begun to shift key manufacturing away from China, with Cook recently confirming that factories in India will produce the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. as early as next year—a direct response to American tariffs on Chinese goods.
Jeff Williams, who joined Apple in 1998 and has led the supply chain since 2015, had been widely seen as a potential successor to Tim Cook. Though stepping back from operations, Williams will remain at Apple for now, continuing to oversee the company’s design team and its growing portfolio of health initiatives. Apple said its design unit would transition to report directly to Cook following Williams’ expected retirement later this year.
Khan’s elevation is the second major leadership shift at Apple in 2025, following the January departure of longtime CFO Luca Maestri. The company also recently reassigned leadership of its Siri division, with Vision Pro architect Mike Rockwell replacing former Google executive John Giannandrea.
As Apple deepens its investments in new technologies and adapts to a shifting global manufacturing landscape, Khan’s appointment signals a focus on operational resilience and strategic flexibility—both essential qualities for navigating the next phase of Apple’s global ambitions.
