Jeff Williams to Retire as Apple’s COO Later This Year in Management Shake-Up

CNBC AI News, July 9 – In a high-profile leadership transition, Apple announced today that Jeff Williams, its seasoned Chief Operating Officer after 27 years with the company, will retire later this year.

Since rising to the COO role in 2015, Williams has been instrumental in overseeing Apple’s global operations and customer service support, while also spearheading the engineering development of the Apple Watch and driving forward key initiatives in health technology. He additionally took the reins of Apple’s design team in 2023.

Williams will remain in a transitional capacity until year-end, reporting to CEO Tim Cook and continuing to manage the design team and Apple Watch engineering. Upon his retirement, oversight of the design functions will shift directly to Cook to ensure seamless continuity.

CEO Tim Cook paid tribute to Williams’ legacy: “Jeff has been at my side since the beginning—without his contributions, Apple wouldn’t stand where it does today. He masterminded the world’s most admired supply chain, launched the groundbreaking Apple Watch and steered its evolution, and architected our ambitious health strategy. His exceptional intellect, passion, and devotion have led our design team to global renown. I am profoundly grateful for his decades of impact.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Williams stated: “Apple holds a special place in my heart, and working alongside extraordinary colleagues has been the honor of a lifetime. I thank Tim for the opportunities, his inspiring leadership, and our enduring friendship. June marked 27 years at Apple and 40 in the industry. Next year, I plan to dedicate more time to family. Sabih has been a trusted partner for 27 years—he’s among the most talented operations executives globally, and I have full confidence in his ability to drive Apple forward.”

Apple outlined the succession plan, with Sabih Khan gradually assuming the COO position starting later this month. Khan has managed Apple’s global supply chain for the past six years, overseeing comprehensive operations from manufacturing to logistics.