(July 21, 2025) When Sabih Khan joined Apple in 1995, the company hadn’t yet launched the iPod, let alone the iPhone or Apple Watch. It was still finding its footing in a competitive tech landscape. Khan, who was born in Moradabad and had gone to school in Singapore, came in as part of the procurement team — not a high-profile hire, just someone with a quiet knack for building systems that worked. He couldn’t have known then that nearly three decades later, he’d be named the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Today, he helps steer the ship of a $3 trillion tech giant — a role built not on visibility, but on years of behind-the-scenes work that shaped how Apple builds, moves, and delivers its products around the world.
His appointment was formally announced by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who called him “a brilliant strategist… one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain,” and praised him for leading “with his heart and his values.”
Tim Cook and Sabih Khan
How Moradabad and Singapore Shaped Apple’s COO
Sabih Khan was born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, a city more known for its brassware than tech careers. He spent his early years in India, where values like hard work and community shaped his upbringing. When he was 10, his family moved to Singapore, marking a major shift in his life. Adjusting to a new culture, language, and school system wasn’t easy, but it gave him early exposure to different ways of thinking — something that would later help him lead global teams and manage complex international operations at Apple. It was an early lesson in adjusting to change — learning to find your place in a new setting, without making noise about it.
By the time Sabih Khan was in his late teens, his journey had already spanned two countries. The next stop was the United States, where he headed for college. At Tufts University in Massachusetts, he chose an uncommon combination: mechanical engineering and economics. It was a mix that gave him both technical depth and a grasp of how systems and markets work.
Later, he went on to earn a master’s in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York, further sharpening his skills. His education — shaped across India, Singapore, and the U.S. — gave him a wide lens, and the tools to move easily between engineering challenges and business decisions. It was the kind of foundation that would quietly prepare him for the career that lay ahead.
Forging Skills in the Corporate World
Khan began his career at General Electric, working with its plastics division — now known as SABIC. He started out as an applications development engineer, later taking on the role of a key account technical leader. The work involved solving complex technical problems for clients and gave him hands-on experience with large-scale industrial systems. It may have been a different world from consumer tech, but it taught him how manufacturing works at scale — how to troubleshoot, streamline, and work across teams. It was the kind of practical, behind-the-scenes learning that would prove essential when he moved to Apple.
Joining Apple and Rising Through the Ranks
In 1995, Sabih Khan joined Apple’s procurement team. The company looked very different then — it was still years away from launching the iPod or iPhone and was trying to find its place in a competitive industry. Khan came in as a mid-level operations specialist, bringing with him the kind of practical experience that quietly gets things done. Over the next three decades, he played a key role in shaping how Apple’s products were built, shipped, and delivered around the world. He wasn’t a public face of the company, but inside Apple, he became known as someone who kept things running. As one report noted, he had a hand in almost every major product launch over the past 20 years — proof of the steady influence he held behind the scenes.
Khan’s rise at Apple was gradual and built on years of work. By 2019, he had become Senior Vice President of Operations, joining the company’s executive leadership team. In that role, he was responsible for Apple’s entire supply chain — from sourcing components to manufacturing, logistics, and product delivery across the world. He also led the company’s supplier responsibility programs, putting a strong focus on ethical labor practices and worker well-being across its global network.
One of the biggest tests of Sabih Khan’s leadership came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global supply chains were under immense strain. Factories closed, shipping was delayed, and companies across industries struggled to meet demand. For Apple, it was a moment that called for calm, experienced decision-making — and Khan delivered. Drawing on nearly 30 years of operational knowledge, he helped the company adjust quickly and keep its products moving, even as conditions kept changing. Tim Cook later credited him with helping Apple stay “nimble in response to global challenges.” It was this steady hand during a global crisis that cemented Khan’s place as a key part of Apple’s leadership team.
Under his leadership, Apple’s operations became not just more efficient, but more values-driven. As Tim Cook put it, “while overseeing Apple’s supply chain, [Sabih] helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing [and] overseen the expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint in the United States,” all while pushing forward the company’s sustainability goals. Apple credits his work with helping reduce its carbon footprint by more than 60 percent in recent years — a major shift that combined operational strength with environmental accountability.
The Appointment as Apple’s COO – Reaching the Summit
In the summer of 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Jeff Williams, the company’s longtime Chief Operating Officer, would be retiring — and that Sabih Khan would step into the role. It was a move that reflected years of trust and proven leadership. Khan had spent decades working behind the scenes, and now he was being given one of the company’s most critical responsibilities.
“Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain,” Cook said in the official announcement. “Above all, Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer.” Coming from Cook — who himself rose through Apple’s operations under Steve Jobs — it was a meaningful endorsement.
Jeff Williams, who had worked closely with Khan for nearly three decades, echoed that confidence. He described Sabih as “the most talented operations executive on the planet.”
Khan’s promotion wasn’t a surprise to those inside Apple. It reflected a long-planned transition and years of work that had earned him quiet respect across the company. As COO, he now oversees everything from manufacturing and global logistics to customer support, working closely with Cook to ensure Apple’s operations stay responsive and efficient. Those who know him describe his leadership as thoughtful and steady — someone who focuses on the details, doesn’t seek attention, and keeps the long view in mind.
An Indian-Origin Leader in Silicon Valley’s Elite Club
Sabih Khan’s move to Apple’s C-suite isn’t just a personal milestone — it also reflects a broader shift in global leadership. He joins a growing group of Indian-origin executives leading some of the world’s most influential tech companies, including Sundar Pichai at Google and Satya Nadella at Microsoft. Like Khan, both were born and raised in India before taking on top roles in the U.S.
In recent years, more and more global companies have come to be shaped by leaders with roots in India’s smaller towns and cities. Khan’s journey — from Moradabad to Cupertino — is part of that larger pattern. His appointment is also a first for Apple: an Indian-born executive at such a senior operational level. For many, it’s a sign of progress in representation, and for young professionals in India and abroad, it’s a reminder of what’s possible.
The Man Behind the Title – Values and Vision
Despite the new title and global responsibilities, Sabih Khan is known for staying close to his roots. Family members say he still enjoys dunking Parle-G biscuits in his tea and often unwinds to old Hindi film songs — habits that have stayed with him through decades abroad. Colleagues describe him as someone who leads with empathy, treats workers with respect, and never loses sight of the human side of Apple’s vast operations.
“Sabih leads our Ops team with heart,” said Tim Cook, “treating workers everywhere with dignity and respect, and protecting the environment for future generations.”
Today, Sabih Khan holds one of the most critical leadership roles at Apple. But his journey isn’t about titles — it’s about the path he’s taken to get there. From a childhood in Moradabad, to navigating new worlds in Singapore, to three decades of steady work behind the scenes at Apple, Khan’s story reflects what’s possible when quiet determination meets global perspective.
In stepping into this new chapter, he represents more than just operational excellence — he reflects the broader story of global Indians helping shape the future of technology, without forgetting where they started.
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