Apple’s Second-in-Command Retires: Who Could Be the Next CEO?

Quick Summary

• Jeff Williams, AppleS COO as 2015, has announced his retirement after joining the company in 1998.
• Sabih Khan, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Operations, will succeed Williams as COO. Apple stated this transition was “part of a long-planned succession.”
• Williams was previously rumored to be a potential candidate for replacing Tim Cook as CEO. However, his age relative to Cook’s made him less likely.
• Speculation suggests John Ternus might be the most viable next CEO candidate when Cook eventually steps down. Ternus is Senior VP of Hardware Engineering and played key roles in transitioning Mac to Apple Silicon and overseeing product lines such as iPhone, AirPods, Vision Pro headset, and robotics.
• Other top executives have departed in recent years: CFO lucas Maestri stepped into a smaller role last year; hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio retired in 2024; marketing leader phil Schiller took on a minor App Store role in 2020; design chief Jony Ive exited the company in 2019.

Image source: Apple Inc.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

Jeff Williams’ retirement marks another critically important leadership change at one of the world’s most influential tech companies. such transitions often impact corporate strategy and investor confidence.As India becomes an increasingly vital market for Apple-especially with local manufacturing hubs expanding-it will be critical for any new leadership to maintain Apple’s innovation edge while adapting strategies that resonate locally.

Sabih Khan’s promotion reflects continuity within Apple’s operational hierarchy but does not settle longer-term speculation surrounding Tim Cook’s successor. if John Ternus emerges as a likely CEO contender due to his contribution toward major technology transitions like Apple Silicon adoption and groundbreaking hardware engineering advancements (including Vision Pro), it could signal Apple’s focus on product innovation rather than solely operational strategies post-Cook era.

Indian consumers may care less about executive reshuffles but more about assurances that any leadership change won’t disrupt the steady rise of cutting-edge product access or pricing models tailored for emerging markets like India. Stability at Cupertino remains crucial globally-not least because disruption risks elsewhere could influence supply chains tied closely with India-based production units.