Will Sabih Khan’s Operational Leadership Help Apple Weather Geopolitical Pressures?

Apple has choosen Indian-origin executive Sabih Khan to steer the iPhone maker at a time when it is strategically moving its supply chain to India. On Tuesday, Apple appointed Khan as its chief operating officer (COO), replacing Jeff Williams, who is set to retire this year. The tech giant is pinning its hope on Khan’s decades-long experience with the iPhone maker in multiple roles, including Apple’s supply chain management. Prior to this, Khan was senior vice president of operations. The development also comes at a time when the tech giant is grappling with pressures from US President Donald Trump to move back its manufacturing base to America.

“Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said on July 8. “Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer,” Cook added. 

How Strategic is Apple’s New COO’s Appointment? 

His appointment has come at a time when Apple’s supply chain is going through major changes fueled by Donald Trump’s tariff hike and his constant push for domestic manufacturing. The US president has threatened the iPhone maker to move its production back to the country or face financial woes in the form of tariffs if they continue to manufacture in China and India.  

Ahead of the tariff hike in April this year, Apple had already began diversifying its supply chain to India and Vietnam. With the recent appointment, Apple is pinning its hope on Khan’s long experience of managing its supply chain. 

“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 technologies,” the Apple CEO added. 

What Does Apple’s Indian-Origin COO Bring to the Table? 

Khan was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad and then relocated to Singapore with his family while he was still in school. Later he moved to the United States. 

He completed his bachelor’s degree in both Economics and Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). After completing his education, he worked briefly with GE Plastics as an applications development engineer.  

Following this, Khan joined Apple in 1995. In a three-decade-long stint with the iPhone maker, he has worked in multiple roles, including product quality, planning, procurement, manufacturing, and logistics. His vast experience in different roles is expected to offer crucial leadership to help Apple navigate global supply chain issues. 

His Role in Apple’s Green Manufacturing Initiatives

Besides leadership acumen and a multicultural personality, Khan brings a lot more to the table for the global tech giant. He has been at the forefront of Apple’s sustainability-related initiatives, playing a crucial role in forging partnerships with suppliers to reduce environmental impact. Further, his leadership was pivotal in reducing Apple’s carbon footprint by nearly 60%. 

“He has advanced our ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping reduce Apple’s carbon footprint by more than 60%,” Cook said. 

Apart from playing a key role in Apple's sustainability programmes, he has been a pioneer in Apple’s transition towards new technologies-driven advanced manufacturing.