Apple's new COO Sabih Khan has roots in UP's Moradabad - How his journey began

Apple has appointed India-born Sabih Khan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), marking a significant shift in the tech giant’s leadership. Khan, a 30-year veteran at Apple, will replace longtime executive Jeff Williams, who is set to retire after nearly three decades with the company.

The 59-year-old executive, born in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, before moving to Singapore during his school years, now becomes the second-most powerful figure at Apple, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. His promotion comes at a pivotal moment for the company, which is aggressively expanding its manufacturing base in India while facing political pressure in the US to bring jobs back home, TOI reported.

Khan, who currently serves as senior vice-president of operations, has been instrumental in reshaping Apple’s global supply chain, particularly its strategic pivot away from China. Apple’s official statement hailed him as a “brilliant strategist” and a key architect behind the company’s supply chain resilience.

“Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional COO,” said Cook, crediting Khan with expanding Apple’s US manufacturing footprint, overseeing procurement and slashing the company’s carbon emissions by over 60%, as reported by TOI.

Khan’s journey to the top ranks of Apple began after earning dual degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University, followed by a master’s in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Before joining Apple in 1995, he worked as an applications development engineer at GE Plastics (now SABIC).

Over the years, Khan became the driving force behind Apple’s hardware production, playing a “critical role in delivering each of Apple’s innovative products to market,” according to The Indian Express. His operational expertise made him a natural successor to Williams, who spearheaded the Apple Watch’s development and laid the groundwork for the company’s health-tech initiatives.

Khan’s elevation places him among the handful of Indian-origin executives leading global tech giants. His appointment also underscores Apple’s deepening ties with India, where it has rapidly scaled up iPhone production in recent years.

Apple, valued at a staggering $3.28 trillion, continues to dominate the consumer electronics market with its flagship products - iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch - alongside its ecosystem of software and services like Apple Music and iCloud.