Sabih Khan’s elevation to Chief Operating Officer at Apple is both a personal milestone and a strategic move for the tech giant. Born in Moradabad, India, and with nearly three decades of service at Apple, Khan’s rise through the ranks reflects not only his operational excellence but also Apple’s trust in internal leadership continuity. He has played a central role in shaping Apple’s global supply chain, helping to navigate everything from manufacturing scale-ups to geopolitical and pandemic-related disruptions.
Since joining Apple’s procurement group in 1995, Khan has been instrumental in driving innovation in manufacturing technologies and expanding Apple’s operations footprint in the US and Asia. His promotion from Senior Vice President of Operations (a role he assumed in 2019) to COO underscores his pivotal contributions, particularly during periods when supply chain resilience was crucial to Apple’s global success.
Beyond logistics, Khan has championed Apple’s environmental and social responsibility initiatives. Under his leadership, Apple’s carbon footprint has been reduced by over 60%, thanks in part to green manufacturing and sustainable supplier practices. He has also overseen supplier responsibility programs focused on labor standards and worker education.
His appointment comes as Jeff Williams, Apple’s long-serving COO and a central figure in products like the Apple Watch and Apple’s health tech strategy, prepares to retire later this year. Williams’ endorsement of Khan as “the most talented operations executive on the planet” reflects deep confidence in the transition.
Khan’s dual background in mechanical engineering and economics (from Tufts University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) gives him both the technical acumen and strategic insight needed for one of the most demanding roles in global tech operations. As COO, he’ll be responsible for ensuring Apple’s high standards across product manufacturing, environmental goals, and ethical supply chain practices are met—an enormous responsibility given Apple’s scale and influence.
Khan’s journey from Moradabad to one of the top leadership roles at Apple also highlights the increasing presence and impact of Indian-origin executives in global technology firms. While he has maintained a low public profile, his work has been foundational in Apple’s ability to deliver premium products at scale and with sustainability in mind.
