Subih Khan’s title grew to become the discuss of world expertise circles after Apple introduced in July 2025 his appointment as chief working officer. (COO)succeeding administration legend Jeff Williams.
Regardless of working inside the firm for almost three a long time, the person who led a very powerful hyperlinks within the provide chain in one of many largest expertise factories on the planet has all the time remained out of the limelight, working silently and letting the outcomes communicate for him..
Indian roots…and starting in Singapore
Sabih Khan was born in 1966 in Moradabad, within the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, right into a household that valued self-discipline and work ethic. His father, engineer Saeedullah Khan, was an instance of integrity and duty, values that formed Sobeih’s character in his early years.
On the age of ten, the household moved to Singapore in the hunt for higher alternatives, and there he discovered himself in a multicultural setting, which gave him an early potential to combine, adapt, and perceive the character of labor in various environments..
Sobeih studied in Indian faculties initially, then accomplished his fundamental schooling in Singapore, earlier than making the pivotal determination to maneuver to the US to pursue his larger schooling, carrying with him the dream of the “American alternative” that modified the destiny of many earlier than him..
Non-traditional educational path
In the US, he attended Tufts College in Massachusetts, the place he studied economics as a part of an intensive analysis program.
Regardless of acquiring a bachelor’s diploma on this specialty, he returned once more to the identical college to check mechanical engineering, in a transfer that appeared unusual to some, however which later created the mix that distinguished him inside Apple. A deep understanding of engineering supported by a transparent financial imaginative and prescient of manufacturing programs and provide chains.
After that, he earned a grasp’s diploma in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Institute of Expertise in New York, one of the outstanding engineering establishments in the US.
This technical and analysis coaching contributed to the formation of an analytical mentality primarily based on fixing issues and maximizing the usage of sources, that are abilities that will later develop into the cornerstone of his success on the most delicate stage inside Apple.
From GE to the world of commercial plastics
Earlier than becoming a member of Apple, Khan labored at GE Plastics, which later grew to become a part of the worldwide SABIC.
He began as an software growth engineer, then managed key accounts. Throughout this era he gained essential expertise in designing custom-made options for patrons, understanding industrial provide chains, dealing with factories, managing provider relationships, and fixing manufacturing issues. This expertise fashioned a strong base that led him to maneuver into the world of excessive expertise.
His entry into Apple…and earlier than the iPhone period
In 1995, earlier than Apple knew any of its revolutionary merchandise, Subih Khan joined the buying division.
The corporate was then removed from the place it’s immediately, and it urgently wanted to construct a powerful provide community that would cut back prices and make sure the uninterrupted circulate of parts..
That is the place Khan’s affect grew to become obvious early, as he helped develop new sourcing methods, construct long-term relationships with suppliers, and put in place programs to scale back logistical dangers.
These foundations have been the spine upon which the iPhone, Mac, and iPad manufacturing system was later constructed.
With each new product launch, Khan was one of many unsung troopers behind the success of manufacturing, transportation and provide operations all over the world.
In the direction of the highest of the pyramid
In 2019, after years of quiet accomplishments, he was appointed Senior Vice President of Operations, the place he started working straight with Jeff Williams.
This place positioned him on the coronary heart of probably the most delicate recordsdata inside Apple, particularly in dealing with world manufacturing challenges.
The key testing second got here through the “Covid-19” pandemic. At a time when provide chains all over the world collapsed, Khan led Apple’s operations system in a approach that allowed the corporate to proceed delivering merchandise inside its schedules, whereas paying nice consideration to security procedures for workers and manufacturing facility employees..
He additionally performed a serious position in Apple’s environmental initiatives, as he led the shift in the direction of extra sustainable manufacturing, which contributed to decreasing the corporate’s carbon footprint by as much as 60%, by adopting environmentally pleasant sources and increasing the scope of inexperienced manufacturing.
He additionally labored to reinforce the unfold of Apple factories in new strategic areas to make sure better flexibility in manufacturing.
Behind the scenes thinker
Regardless of the ability of his place, Khan follows a administration strategy primarily based on humility and dealing away from the cameras.
He refuses to look within the media besides when vital and focuses primarily on the work groups, from engineers to workers on manufacturing traces.
He believes that true management begins with caring for and empowering workers, and that the very best achievement is that achieved by groups, not people.
He loves his household and Indian delicacies
Away from work, Sabeeh Khan retains his non-public life away from the media. He’s a father of three kids, and considers himself a household man above all else.
Throughout his a few years exterior India, he’s nonetheless hooked up to his first tradition, particularly Indian delicacies, which he considers a part of his reminiscence and childhood..
The crowning second
Following the retirement of Jeff Williams, Apple introduced in July 2025 the appointment of Subih Khan as chief working officer.
On this place, he grew to become one of the outstanding Indian-origin leaders main world expertise corporations alongside names like Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai..
Sabih Khan walked his strategy to the highest very quietly, with out in search of the limelight, however immediately he has develop into one of the influential figures in the way forward for Apple and its provide chain, and one of many position fashions that conjures up thousands and thousands of younger individuals all over the world that the trail to success might start in a small metropolis.
Supply: Prime Insights
