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Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) plans to replace its current chief operating officer, Jeff Williams, with an executive who has been instrumental in organizing its supply chain, the company announced today.
Sabih Khan, Apple’s current senior vice president of operations, will transition to the COO role later this month. Williams will stay with the company to oversee Apple’s design team, Apple Watch and its health initiatives.
“Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “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.”
Khan has worked at Apple since 1995 and has served as the senior vice president of operations since 2019.
Williams helped Apple launch the iPod and iPhone. He also led the development of the Apple Watch and helped craft the company’s health strategy.
“Beginning next year, I plan to spend more time with friends and family, including five grandchildren and counting,” 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. I have tremendous confidence in Apple’s future under his leadership in this role.”
Apple also made a few changes in its executive team in March. The Cupertino-based company promoted Vanessa Trigub to a new role as vice president of stores and retail operations globally. It also put Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell in charge of digital voice assistant Siri in place of AI chief John Giannandrea.