Apple-Coo Jeff Williams: Tim Cook’s right hand is retired

After the partial boarding of the CFO Luca Maestri last year, Apple is the next major renovation in top management: Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and right hand of CEO Tim Cook, throws the towel. According to Apple, it will now A “transition” by the end of the year Give, in the meantime Sabih Khan takes over the position. Similar to Williams, it is very long at Apple: a total of 30 years. Williams himself came to the iPhone group in 1998 and was made a COO by Cook in 2015. He was responsible for the implementation of the daily business including the production processes at the finished team, a kind of “Tim Cooks Tim Cook”. At the same time, Williams also took care of the health initiatives at Apple Watch, and regularly presented them in Apple’s keynotes. After all, Williams had also been the top supervisor about the Apple design team since 2023, an enormously important role after there was no longer an own head of design.

COO is retired – gradually

The COO was born in 1963, so currently over 60. However, this means nothing at Apple: Cook itself is 64 and currently does not intend to leave his post. Interestingly, Khan is not much younger than Williams: He is the year of construction 1963. Apple boss Cook found some warm words for Williams in the announcement of the transition from COO to COO: “Apple would not be what it is today without him.” The COO has succeeded in building up one of the “most respected global supply chain in the world”, orchestrated the health initiatives, brought the Apple Watch out and monitored its development.

“He also led our world -class team of designers with great wisdom, heart and dedication.” He will “be more and more grateful” for the numerous contributions to Apple’s success over the years – “and his loyal friendship”. The legacy Williams’ is above all his great team. “We will miss him enormously, but he leaves the work of the future in wonderful hands.”

Transition from next month

What William’s retirement means for Apple is still unclear. The manager himself stated that he had been at Apple in June in June and a total of 40 years in industry. Next year he wanted to spend “more time with friends and family”, including his five grandchildren. He had worked with successors Khan for 27 years and he believes that he was “the most talented operational executive on the planet”.

The transition phase should begin from the coming month. Among other things, Khan himself had introduced new production processes and strengthened Apple’s climate protection measures. It now plays an important role: when changing the production of China to India – and when building an extended production in the USA, which President Donald Trump has been demanding for a long time. Apple has not yet confirmed whether this actually comes. How long Khan stays on his post is also not certain, and it could also be retired in the foreseeable future.