In a significant leadership transition, Apple Inc. has named Sabih Khan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), replacing long-serving Jeff Williams. This move marks a pivotal shift in the tech giant’s leadership structure and signals continued confidence in Indian-origin executives. With a rich career spanning nearly three decades at Apple, Khan has emerged as a key architect of the company’s global operations and supply chain excellence.
Who Is Sabih Khan? A Journey from Moradabad to Silicon Valley
Sabih Khan was born in 1966 in Moradabad, a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. His early years were spent in India before his family moved to Singapore during his school years. Eventually, Khan immigrated to the United States, where he pursued higher education and carved out a remarkable professional journey.
Khan holds a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University. He went on to complete a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York, solidifying his technical and analytical foundation that would later serve him well in the world of global technology.
Sabih Khan’s Early Career and Entry into Apple
Before joining Apple, Khan began his career at GE Plastics, where he worked as an application development engineer and later became a key account technical leader. This role sharpened his skills in innovation, customer engagement, and materials technology.
In 1995, Khan joined Apple’s procurement team, marking the beginning of an extraordinary trajectory within one of the world’s most valuable companies. Over the years, he has held various influential roles, rising steadily through the ranks as he built a reputation for reliability, operational excellence, and ethical leadership.
Khan’s Rise to Apple’s Senior Vice President of Operations
In 2019, Apple appointed Sabih Khan as its Senior Vice President of Operations, a role that placed him at the center of Apple’s vast global supply chain, supplier responsibility programs, and operations teams. Khan’s leadership came at a time of immense global upheaval — the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, Khan worked closely with Apple’s supplier network to streamline operations, ensure product availability, and spearhead green manufacturing initiatives. His adept handling of supply chain disruptions while upholding Apple’s commitment to environmental responsibility earned him widespread recognition within and beyond the company.
Global Supply Chain Architect and Strategic Visionary
Under Khan’s leadership, Apple’s supply chain evolved into one of the most resilient and sustainable in the world. He collaborated with thousands of global suppliers across regions to:
Reduce carbon emissions by more than 60%.
Introduce innovative, eco-conscious production methods.
Expand manufacturing operations within the United States, supporting local economies and reducing Apple’s global footprint.
Enforce Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct, ensuring fair labor practices and environmental sustainability.
His role also extended to advancing responsible sourcing, overseeing product manufacturing scalability, and managing critical logistics — from component sourcing to final delivery.
Sabih Khan Appointed as Apple’s COO: What It Means
With the announcement on July 8, Apple confirmed that Sabih Khan would officially assume the role of COO by the end of this month. The decision is part of a long-standing succession plan, highlighting the company’s forward-thinking approach to leadership continuity.
Jeff Williams, Apple’s former COO, will remain with the company for a transition period and continue to oversee Apple Watch and design teams. Following his eventual retirement, the design team will report directly to CEO Tim Cook.
This move positions Khan as the third-most important executive at Apple, after CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri.
Tim Cook’s Endorsement of Sabih Khan
In a powerful statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook lavished praise on Khan’s visionary approach and values-driven leadership. Cook described him as a “talented strategist”, instrumental in developing advanced manufacturing technologies and strengthening Apple’s domestic production footprint.
Cook added, “Sabih has been central to our efforts to shrink our carbon footprint and enhance our manufacturing resilience. His sensitive leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering integrity make him the ideal person to lead our operations into the future.”
Apple’s Increasing Reliance on Indian Talent
With Sabih Khan stepping into the role of COO, Apple joins a growing list of U.S. tech giants that have entrusted key leadership roles to Indian-origin executives. Following in the footsteps of Sundar Pichai (Google) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Khan’s elevation underscores the growing influence of Indian professionals in global corporate leadership.
Apple’s decision reflects confidence in diverse, multicultural leadership, and serves as a powerful testament to the talent nurtured across borders. Indian executives are increasingly being recognized not just for their technical prowess but for their ability to drive innovation, manage large-scale operations, and uphold ethical business practices.
Sabih Khan’s Management Philosophy
Colleagues describe Sabih Khan as a quiet powerhouse — someone who leads by example rather than by command. His leadership is defined by:
Empathy and ethics, ensuring that teams feel empowered and respected.
Precision in execution, with a focus on measurable outcomes and accountability.
Visionary problem-solving, especially under high-stakes conditions such as supply chain disruptions.
His success lies in his ability to navigate the complexities of hardware engineering, supply chain logistics, and corporate responsibility with equal finesse.
Impact on Apple’s Future
With Khan at the helm of operations, Apple is poised to:
Deepen its environmental commitments across all products.
Expand its manufacturing presence in the U.S. and India.
Advance supply chain transparency and supplier accountability.
Strengthen its position in emerging markets through cost-efficient logistics.
Sabih Khan’s promotion signals a strategic shift — not just in leadership, but in how Apple plans to tackle the next wave of sustainability, scalability, and geopolitical complexity in its operations.
Conclusion: Sabih Khan, The Global Indian Powering Apple Forward
From Moradabad to Cupertino, Sabih Khan’s journey is emblematic of a new era in tech leadership. As the Chief Operating Officer of Apple, Khan brings with him a deep well of experience, a firm grasp of operational dynamics, and an unwavering commitment to values-led growth.
His appointment is not just a personal triumph, but a milestone in the recognition of global Indian talent in shaping the future of the world’s most valuable company.
With his hand on the operational pulse of Apple, Sabih Khan stands ready to lead the company through its next decade of innovation, sustainability, and global excellence.
