Apple Appoints Indian-Origin Sabih Khan As New COO, Tim Cook Says ‘He Leads With Heart’

Apple has announced the appointment of Sabih Khan, a veteran of its operations team, as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). The Indian-origin executive will take over from Jeff Williams later this month as part of a long-planned succession. Williams will continue to oversee Apple Watch and the company’s design team until his retirement later this year.

Khan currently serves as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Operations and has been with the company for nearly 30 years. His elevation marks a significant milestone, particularly for the Indian diaspora, as he becomes one of the highest-ranking executives at the tech giant.

Apple CEO Tim Cook praised Khan’s contributions in a statement, calling him a “brilliant strategist” and “one of the central architects” of Apple’s supply chain. Cook noted Khan’s leadership in advanced manufacturing, expansion of US manufacturing capabilities, and his commitment to environmental sustainability, which helped reduce Apple’s carbon footprint by over 60 percent.

“Above all, Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional Chief Operating Officer,” Cook said.

Who is Sabih Khan?

Born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Khan moved to Singapore during his school years before eventually relocating to the United States. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University and later obtained a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

Khan began his career at GE Plastics before joining Apple’s procurement team in 1995. Over the years, he has been instrumental in developing Apple’s global supply chain, leading supplier responsibility initiatives, and managing operational teams. He was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2019.