Apple Appoints Sabih Khan as COO Amid Supply Chain Shifts

Apple's long-serving Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams will retire in July 2025 after 27 years with the tech giant, marking the end of an era for the company's core leadership team. Apple confirmed the news in a statement on Tuesday, 8 July, and announced that Sabih Khan, the company's Senior Vice President of Operations, will step into the role of Chief Operating Officer before the end of the month.

The announcement was made in an official Apple press release highlighting the leadership transition and Khan's contributions to Apple's global operations.

The leadership change comes at a pivotal time for Apple as it faces growing global supply chain challenges, increasing pressure from US-China trade tensions, and fresh tariffs under President Donald Trump's economic policies.

Who Is Sabih Khan?

Sabih Khan is an Indian-American tech executive who began his career at Apple in 1995. With a background in engineering and operational leadership, Khan has spent nearly three decades streamlining Apple's global supply chain, focusing on manufacturing, logistics, procurement, and environmental sustainability.

In 2019, Khan was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations. In this role, he spearheaded Apple's efforts to expand partnerships with green manufacturers, improve supplier diversity, and reduce carbon emissions across the company's production ecosystem.

Tim Cook praised Khan in Apple's announcement, calling him a 'brilliant strategist and one of the central architects of Apple's supply chain'.

'Sabih leads with heart and values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer,' Cook added. 'He helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges.'

Why Sabih Khan's Appointment Matters

Khan's promotion signals Apple's commitment to strengthening its operational resilience amid growing economic and geopolitical uncertainty. His track record in supplier localisation, green tech innovation, and global logistics is expected to play a key role in helping Apple navigate rising global protectionism and environmental demands.

Notably, Apple reduced its overall carbon footprint by 60% under Khan's leadership—an achievement that aligns with the United States' net-zero emissions goal by 2050. His continued push for eco-conscious manufacturing could unlock new revenue streams for Apple through green energy subsidies and carbon credits.

Khan Steps In as Trump Introduces New Tariffs

Khan's promotion also arrives just as President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping new tariffs as part of his renewed 'America First' trade agenda. On 7 July 2025, Trump sent formal letters to several countries—including Malaysia, South Africa, and Kazakhstan—informing them of tariff hikes of up to 40%, set to take effect on Wednesday, 9 July.

Tariffs of 30% will also be applied to goods from Bosnia, Tunisia, and Herzegovina, with Trump stating that the measures are a response to foreign trade policies he claims block American exports. He added that countries can avoid these penalties by shifting their manufacturing operations to the United States.

For Apple, which has faced years of scrutiny for its manufacturing footprint in China, the pressure to diversify operations has never been greater. Khan's proven expertise in supplier diversification and domestic production initiatives could prove critical in safeguarding the company from tariff risks and maintaining product availability in key markets.

What's Next for Apple?

As Sabih Khan prepares to take over as COO, Apple finds itself navigating a complex web of environmental goals, political risk, and market expansion. With Jeff Williams exiting and Khan stepping in, the leadership transition reflects both the challenges and opportunities facing one of the world's most influential companies.

Whether it's countering rising tariffs, cutting emissions, or evolving Apple's global supply chain, Khan's appointment signals a new era of operational strategy—and possibly, Apple's response to an increasingly protectionist global economy.