Apple Inc. has announced a major leadership change, naming Sabih Khan, an Indian-American technology executive, as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). The transition comes as current COO Jeff Williams prepares to retire later this year.
Sabih Khan: The Sustainability Architect of Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook commended Khan for his strategic brilliance and his dedication to sustainability, highlighting Khan’s contribution to reducing Apple’s carbon footprint by over 60%. Cook remarked:
“Sabih leads with heart and values. I’m confident he will be an outstanding Chief Operating Officer. He helped make Apple agile in a complex global environment.”
Over his nearly three-decade-long career at Apple, Khan has been instrumental in shaping the company’s global supply chain, making it a model of efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Who Is Sabih Khan?
Early Life & Education
- Born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Moved to Singapore at the age of 10
- Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University
- Earned a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Early Career
Khan began his professional career at GE Plastics (now SABIC), where he served as an application development engineer and later advanced to a key account technical leader.
Khan’s Journey at Apple
A Legacy Since 1995
Sabih Khan joined Apple in 1995 and played a crucial role in designing and scaling Apple’s vast global supply chain, which supports the production and delivery of Apple products worldwide.
Senior Vice President of Operations
In 2019, Khan was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations. His responsibilities included:
- Partnering with suppliers on green manufacturing initiatives
- Overseeing planning, procurement, logistics, manufacturing, and product fulfillment
- Ensuring product quality and operational sustainability
Leading Apple’s Green Transition
Under Khan’s leadership, Apple made significant strides in environmental responsibility:
- Launched supplier responsibility programs to ensure ethical labor practices
- Advanced clean energy adoption and eco-friendly manufacturing
- Achieved a 60%+ reduction in Apple’s carbon emissions
Tim Cook credited Khan with expanding Apple’s U.S. manufacturing efforts and adopting cutting-edge technologies to modernize operations across the globe.
Leadership Transition at Apple
Outgoing COO Jeff Williams will continue to support the design and Apple Watch divisions until his official retirement later this year. Meanwhile, Sabih Khan is set to lead Apple’s operations into a new era focused on sustainability and innovation.
