Apple Announces Jeff Williams Stepping Down as COO Later This Month

[Lounge vibes 05]

Dude, wasn’t this guy tapped to be in the running for Tim Apple’s job? Damn…

These leadership changes smell of the negative impact that AI has had on this company…without the introduction of AI, I’m sure these kinds of major leadership changes wouldn’t be happening right now…

Yeah, but why announce it randomly on a Tuesday in July in 2025?

He could’ve easily announced it when Apple was coasting prior to the pandemic…

Tim’s alleged successor is bowing out. Which means Tim isn’t going anywhere soon.

why on earth would this guy have been Tim’s successor?
When Tim Retires it’s going to be because he… Is old and wants to retire, his successor isn’t going to be someone who’s only two years younger than him.
why did he not retire during the pandemic? Because that was five years ago when he was still in his 50s, now the guy is in his 60s, wealthy beyond belief and wants to live.
even Steve Jobs would have eventually retired, he would’ve been 70.
Apple’s next CEO will likely be someone like John Ternus, only 50. Someone who could reasonably see themselves doing the job for 15 to 20 years, not someone who’s gonna be right behind Tim going into retirement age.
if the last 10 years of politics have proven anything, it’s that the *last* thing any organization needs is someone going into their 80s/already in their 80s with an ego as big as a house leading the ship.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

A lot of these companies need new blood. There’s simply no way you can maintain passion and focus for the amount of yrs these executives put in. At some point you’re either so far up the ladder you’re just a QA checkbox or you’re so burnt out you stop pushing the envelope.

Everyone could literally buy a Mac and iPhone right now and be good for the next 5yrs at the rate we’re going. Gotta look at yourself in the mirror and realize you might be the problem.

 

[carswell]

Not the retirement I've been hoping for...

 

[souko]

Apple does not innovate. Like really?
Do you remember: Apple silicon for example. Or miniLED displays, or Vision Pro with over 4000 patents, or iPhone X, smaller things like dynamic island and much more?

 

[Taq'aix]

why on earth would this guy have been Tim’s successor?
When Tim Retires it’s going to be because he… Is old and wants to retire, his successor isn’t going to be someone who’s only two years younger than him.
why did he not retire during the pandemic? Because that was five years ago when he was still in his 50s, now the guy is in his 60s, wealthy beyond belief and wants to live.
even Steve Jobs would have eventually retired, he would’ve been 70.
Apple’s next CEO will likely be someone like John Ternus, only 50. Someone who could reasonably see themselves doing the job for 15 to 20 years, not someone who’s gonna be right behind Tim going into retirement age.
if the last 10 years of politics have proven anything, it’s that the *last* thing any organization needs is someone going into their 80s/already in their 80s with an ego as big as a house leading the ship.

There you go…

“Most strikingly, the report claims that current Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams is primed to take over as CEO if ‌Tim Cook‌ were to retire imminently. Williams is "seen as the heir apparent" within the company…”

New Report Outlines Potential Successors to Apple's CEO Tim Cook and Other Senior Executives

In a new report, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has laid out Apple's current succession planning for the company's senior leadership roles. The...

www.macrumors.com

 

[t0rqx]

Same guy who is responsible for the QC selling scratched and dents in Macbook Pro screens. Straight from the Apple Online Store.

 

[nathansz]

These leadership changes smell of the negative impact that AI has had on this company…without the introduction of AI, I’m sure these kinds of major leadership changes wouldn’t be happening right now…

Or someone might just want to retire

 

[ApAx]

why on earth would this guy have been Tim’s successor?
When Tim Retires it’s going to be because he… Is old and wants to retire, his successor isn’t going to be someone who’s only two years younger than him.
why did he not retire during the pandemic? Because that was five years ago when he was still in his 50s, now the guy is in his 60s, wealthy beyond belief and wants to live.
even Steve Jobs would have eventually retired, he would’ve been 70.
Apple’s next CEO will likely be someone like John Ternus, only 50. Someone who could reasonably see themselves doing the job for 15 to 20 years, not someone who’s gonna be right behind Tim going into retirement age.
if the last 10 years of politics have proven anything, it’s that the *last* thing any organization needs is someone going into their 80s/already in their 80s with an ego as big as a house leading the ship.

It is very common practice for big us corporations to groom the COO to be the next CEO. My company’s CEO is ten years older than Cook and we are all watching the last five years of the COO slowly become the visible leader for that one day announcement

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Apple does not innovate. Like really?
Do you remember: Apple silicon for example. Or miniLED displays, or Vision Pro with over 4000 patents, or iPhone X, smaller things like dynamic island and much more?

Apple silicon was an industry game changer and the iPhone X was a solid Apple only evolution. Everything else you listed is questionable; miniLED is awful display tech, VP was a consumer bust but so is all AR/VR and I can count on one hand how useful Dynamic Island has been since it’s inception. Results may vary but most of these were developed for the sake of change so innovation might not be the most appropriate word.

 

[jblank]

"he will be succeeded by Sabih Khan"

KHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2DeedleD]

Wow, so much negativity in this thread. But why?

Some people are broken, other times, it's just a honest opinion. I ignore it either way and try to do better than I did in the past/yesterday, or I would've been dead long ago. I'd rather have them vent here online conversing, than out in greater public having a "Crash-out" moment. The internet isn't the long term answer or solution, but it can help sometimes. Just my 2 cents. Stay positive if possible, and stay safe.

 

[antiprotest]

It's all beta to me.

 

[TigerNike23]

Welp, he was my pick to succeed Tim Apple.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Wow, so much negativity in this thread. But why?

You must be new here. This is par for the course at MacRumors.

 

[Ghost31]

Omg this news changes everything. And also nothing at the same time

 

[rlewisphilly]

Or the fact that some executives don’t want to work until they die. It’s been 40 years, he can retire.

Was about to type the same thing. The guy's been at it for 40+ years, he has the $$$. Let him enjoy life a bit.

 

[chouseworth]

Enjoy retirement, Jeff! Some people may not realize, he’s been with Apple for a long time. He was brought in shortly after Steve came back in 1998.

Jeff's been working with Cook going all the back to the mid-eighties when both worked with IBM at Research Triangle Park, NC. Tim had also brought along to Apple several others from IBM at RTP including Bill Frederick (Logistics) and Tony Blevins (Procurement). For a while after Cook came on board Cupertino was referred to as IBM - West.

 

[Macbookey]

Glad to hear this. If one thought Cook was void of any personality, Williams was a walking and talking wet slab of cardboard in scripted “keynote” videos. Agree with those that say it’s time for fresh blood. Especially in design and software divisions.

 

[jz0309]

Apple today announced a major executive shakeup: Jeff Williams will be stepping down as COO of the company later this month, and he will be succeeded by Sabih Khan, who has served as Apple's Senior Vice President of Operations since 2019.

Since being promoted to COO in 2015, Williams has overseen Apple's entire worldwide operations, as well as customer service and support. He has also led Apple Watch engineering and health initiatives, and he took over Apple's design team in 2023.

Williams will remain at Apple in a transitionary role until he fully retires from the company towards the end of this year. He will continue reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook and overseeing Apple's design team and Apple Watch engineering until he retires, at which point the design team will report directly to Cook.

Cook shared a heartfelt message about Williams, who has worked at Apple since 1998:Williams shared his own heartfelt farewell message:Apple said Khan will gradually transition into the role of COO starting later this month, as part of a "long-planned succession." For the past six years, he has been in charge of Apple's global supply chain, overseeing everything from manufacturing to logistics.

Cook expressed confidence in Khan, who has worked at Apple for more than 30 years:We wish Williams all the best in retirement.

Article Link: Apple Announces Jeff Williams Stepping Down as COO Later This Month

Well deserved retirement! It's actually nice over here

 

[delsoul]

Hey, hey…ho, ho…Tim Cook has got to go!

The losses, failures, and all around disorganization under Tim’s leadership is absolutely unacceptable. That’s a shame that John is on his way out when it should be Tim.

 

[delsoul]

.

 

[NT1440]

Yeah, but why announce it randomly on a Tuesday in July in 2025?

He could’ve easily announced it when Apple was coasting prior to the pandemic…

Because most retirements at this level happen when the person chooses? In regards to the context of my original statement, there’s no way his retirement is a ham handed PR response to something only us apple nerds in the internet even pay attention to.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Yeah, but why announce it randomly on a Tuesday in July in 2025?

Why not?

I didn't realize we got to vote on when he retired.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

APPLE IS DEAD GOING BANKRUPT IN A YEAR HASN”T INNOVATED IN FOREVER TIM COOK NEEDS TO GO

copy pasta response to any apple news article.

 

[btrach144]

I don’t know Jeff but he was a good presenter and seemed to have a calm spirit. Enjoy retirement!