Major leadership shift coming at Apple after COO change; design team to report to Tim Cook

Apple is undergoing a major leadership reshuffle as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence efforts. Chief operating officer Jeff Williams will step down from his role later this month, and Sabih Khan, the company’s senior vice president of operations, will take over. Khan has been with Apple for 30 years and joined the executive team in 2019.

CEO Tim Cook will take charge of Apple’s design team once Williams retires later this year. Williams, a longtime Apple veteran, will continue reporting to Cook until his departure, overseeing the company’s design team, Apple Watch and health initiatives in the interim.

Cook acknowledged Williams' lasting impact at Apple. “Jeff and I have worked alongside each other for as long as I can remember, and Apple wouldn’t be what it is without him. He’s helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world; launched Apple Watch and overseen its development; architected Apple’s health strategy; and led our world-class team of designers with great wisdom, heart, and dedication,” he said.


Cook’s move to directly lead the design team comes at a time when Apple is undergoing a significant visual overhaul. The company is rolling out a new design language called Liquid Glass, which will appear across iPhones, iPads, Macs and other devices.

Those familiar with Williams’ work said his departure had been expected. He has handled years of intense workload and was also managing the complex shift of Apple’s supply chain from China to India. He was also closely involved in the company’s response to tariff-related pressure from US president Donald Trump, who has pushed for more American manufacturing.

On Khan’s elevation to COO, Cook said, “While overseeing Apple’s supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint in the United States, and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges.”