Who is Sabih Khan: Apple’s New Indian-Origin COO from Uttar Pradesh

• Sabih Khan, born in Moradabad in 1966, becomes Apple's COO in July 2025 as planned succession.
• A 30-year Apple veteran and supply-chain strategist, Khan has cut Apple's carbon footprint by over 60%.

Sabih Khan was ten years old when his family moved from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, to Singapore in 1976. He was just another bright-eyed Indian child who arrived in a city full of ambition. He didn't speak much English back then. Now, nearly five decades later, that same boy is the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Apple Inc., one of the world's most powerful tech companies.

In boardrooms, the announcement has created a stir. Especially in India, Khan's promotion is being seen as an indication of tectonic changes at Apple. Once a street vendor in western Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, the man now oversees the supply chain for a business that shapes consumer behavior worldwide. At the same time that Apple is facing mounting criticism over the location and method of iPhone manufacturing, he is taking action as his predecessor, Jeff Williams, is getting ready to retire.

Khan, who was born in 1966, started his career outside of Silicon Valley. His family moved to Singapore after he was born and raised in India, where he completed his early schooling. After that, he studied in the US and earned degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University. He then graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a master's degree in mechanical engineering.

Khan started his Apple journey in 1995. He joined the procurement team and worked his way up the ranks. In 2019, he was Apple's Senior Vice President of Operations, overseeing the company's massive manufacturing and logistics engine, from component sourcing to product delivery.

He also led Apple's Supplier Responsibility Program, which focuses on ethical labor and worker education at manufacturing facilities around the world.

In a statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook referred to him as "one of the principal architects of Apple's global supply chain". "Sabih Khan has helped advance new manufacturing technologies and led our expansion in the U.S., while ensuring Apple stays resilient through global challenges," claimed the CEO.

Khan previously worked for GE Plastics as an Application Development Engineer and Account Technical Leader. He worked with clients to design customised plastic products. But there is a much deeper meaning behind the boardroom accolades. Khan's appointment coincides with Apple's growing shift toward India.

Also Read: Apple Appoints Indian-Origin Sabih Khan as New COO

In 2017, Apple began assembling iPhones in India. Apple produced $22 billion worth of iPhones in India last year alone, a 60 percent increase from the year before. During the fiscal year 2024-25, the company exported $17.4 billion in devices.

This month, Apple confirmed that it is shifting a significant portion of its production out of China.

Currently, 20% of all iPhones sold globally are manufactured in India. Apple intends to increase that figure in the coming years, a strategic realignment that many regard as both a geopolitical response and a business hedge.

The timing of Khan's promotion also sends a message not only within Apple, but globally. Just recently, US President Donald Trump warned Cook that if Apple continued to manufacture iPhones outside the United States, particularly in India, it would face steep tariffs. That warning sparked political outrage, but Apple did not blink. Instead, it doubled down on its India strategy, promoting a Moradabad-born engineer to one of the company's most powerful positions.

For many, the message is clear. Apple isn't backing down. And with Khan at the helm of its global operations, the company appears more determined than ever to bet on India and its people.