Apple COO Jeff Williams: 'People Have Been Really Resourceful and We're Moving the Ball Forward'

[MacRumors]

Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams is "optimistic" about the economy's ability to rebound from the impact of the global health crisis, according to an interview he did with Fox Business this morning. Williams said that he feels great about the economy in the long haul, and cited Apple's recent launch of three new products.

"I am optimistic. As you look around, you see the resilience of the people working through this challenging time and when I take a look inside of Apple, I couldn't be more encouraged. During last quarter, even though these are challenging times, we launched three new products and I feel great about the economy in the long haul and it's just a matter of getting from here to there."

Williams also reiterated statements that Apple CEO Tim Cook made during Apple's recent earnings call on Apple's supply chain. Williams said that Apple has addressed its supply chain issues, though he did not comment on whether products might be delayed. "Our supply chains are running largely at capacity," he said. "People are continuing to work."

There have been rumors suggesting some of the 2020 iPhone models could launch later than expected, much like the split between the iPhone XS and XR back in 2018. "I couldn't be prouder of the team finding new ways to get the job done," he said. "People have been really resourceful and we're moving the ball forward."

Williams explained that Apple has plans to open additional retail stores in the coming weeks. Apple has already reopened a store in South Korea, a store in Austria, and 21 of its stores in Australia. "We're bullish in the long haul," said Williams.

Article Link: Apple COO Jeff Williams: 'People Have Been Really Resourceful and We're Moving the Ball Forward'

 

[nfl46]

I think he'd do a great job as a future Apple CEO. It makes me wonder if he is next in line. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in some of those BOD meetings.

 

[justperry]

I think he'd do a great job as a future Apple CEO. It makes me wonder if he is next in line. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in some of those BOD meetings.

I would like to see Craig Federighi as CEO🍻, Jeff Williams would be Ok as well, isn't he a product guy, just what Apple needs, we've seen changes in hardware last 2 years, I think Jeff is behind this.

 

[ceriess]

He is the one I see as Cook's successor.

 

[derek916]

Hopefully now that all the Apple execs have been doing internet calls they'll see how terrible the webcams are on macs.. and maybe we will see a future above 720p

 

[jonblatho]

I would like to see Craig Federighi as CEO🍻, Jeff Williams would be Ok as well, isn't he a product guy, just what Apple needs, we've seen changes in hardware last 2 years, I think Jeff is behind this.

Craig Federighi has wonderful stage presence and is a really smart guy, especially with software engineering.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he’d be a good fit as the CEO of a massive company like Apple, and there exist strong arguments for why the COO of any company is generally a safe bet to step in should the CEO leave. It’s just the strongly similar nature of their duties.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I think he'd do a great job as a future Apple CEO. It makes me wonder if he is next in line. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in some of those BOD meetings.

how is your doing a great job 'as' a future Apple CEO?

I think I read an article that he's THE smartest (education) at Apple but cannot find a link to that.

This is a strange interview for him to be doing an commenting on Apple as a whole in terms of outlook ... especially after a recent Shareholders meeting on the past quarterly reporting. This may actually give notice of him being 'groomed' for CEO yet is he not the same age as Tim? would he have the longevity to go 12yrs or more?

Questions ...

 

[MrGimper]

Jeff is not the guy you want if you need to raise enthusiasm.........

 

[chucker23n1]

Jeff Williams would be Ok as well, isn't he a product guy

He seems enthusiastic about health stuff. My guess is he was influential in pivoting Apple Watch to a more health-focused device, and he also seems to drive things like ResearchKit.

 

[Cosmosent]

Why is he speaking now ?

My best guess, Apple's Upper Mgmt (& probably ALSO their Board) is worried about the Great Divide between Wall Street & Main Street !

 

[Rogifan]

He seems enthusiastic about health stuff. My guess is he was influential in pivoting Apple Watch to a more health-focused device, and he also seems to drive things like ResearchKit.

He didn’t really say anything. But an interview like this is just more proof that he will replace Cook as CEO when he steps down.

I don’t think there was really a pivot on Apple Watch. I think there was always a focus on fitness and health but a lot of the stuff wasn’t ready for prime time yet but Apple couldn’t wait much longer to launch the product.

Craig Federighi has wonderful stage presence and is a really smart guy, especially with software engineering.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he’d be a good fit as the CEO of a massive company like Apple, and there exist strong arguments for why the COO of any company is generally a safe bet to step in should the CEO leave. It’s just the strongly similar nature of their duties.

I’d love to see Jeff as the CEO and maybe move Tim Cook to some sort of chairman role. Tim could manage the relationships with governments and maybe Lisa Jackson‘s work would fall under him. Or he’d keep retail and HR. The day to day operations and responsibility for products would fall to Jeff. One rumor I heard was the design team was put under him is because he has an interest in design and worked a lot with the team. It seems Jeff is more of a product guy than Tim is.

 

[jonnysods]

I can see him as Cook's successor, but ideally it would be great to have a more design minded person at the helm instead of an operations minded person.

 

[chucker23n1]

He didn’t really say anything. But an interview like this is just more proof that he will replace Cook as CEO when he steps down.

Haven't watched this interview. Was more commenting on appearances at e.g. keynotes.

I don’t think there was really a pivot on Apple Watch. I think there was always a focus on fitness and health but a lot of the stuff wasn’t ready for prime time yet but Apple couldn’t wait much longer to launch the product.

Ehhhhh. If you look at how watchOS 1.0 was presented, it feels much of the original focus was never heard of again.

I would agree that a lot just wasn't ready yet (I would also argue that watchOS 1.0 and the Series 0 probably launched too soon), so they had to focus on what was. But still, if you look at how the first Watch was presented use cases-wise, they seem to have missed the boat a little. Digital Touch? Sharing your heartbeat? A physical button for the contacts picker?

 

[tyranne201]

"Apple needs to make money"
[automerge]1588887077[/automerge]

He is the one I see as Cook's successor.

He seems just as bad as. Apple does not need another Steve Jobs' widow. Apple needs someone from outside, that can shake the company. For me, they are trying hard to follow Jobs' ideas in a bad way.

 

[noleli]

Giant metallic coronavirus in the background 🧐

 

[nfl46]

He seems just as bad as. Apple does not need another Steve Jobs' widow. Apple needs someone from outside, that can shake the company. For me, they are trying hard to follow Jobs' ideas in a bad way.

According to MacRumors users, that was supposed to be Angela Ahrendts. Then again, who knows...maybe she will return to Apple in 5 years as their CEO. Lol.

 

[citysnaps]

I'd need a lot more detailed information about Williams and Federighi before concluding either would be a good CEO. Which is a lot more than stage presence/mannerisms/appearance.

 

[Plutonius]

All the big corporations should recover from Covid-19.

It's the small businesses where many will go under.

 

[DexBell]

The economy won't recover from this for at least a decade, if at all. The shutdown killed it, damage Is done. Billions are lost every day and tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs and businesses. The depression that's coming will make the Great Depression look tame in comparison. Hope it was worth it for a virus that's still only infected 0.03% of the worlds population and only killed 2% of that...

Also, the fact that Apple continues to do business with China is criminal. They are the richest company on the planet. Bring those jobs back to America, help rebuild and take a little hit on profit margins. If you are a respectable company, that's what you should be doing. If not, move your entire operation to China and I won't buy any more of your products ever again.

 

[needsomecoffee]

I appreciate Apple C-Level execs trying to build optimism. But he has no idea what the future is going to be for SMB, and he and Tim and all the others at Apple have little concept of the struggles of many SMB, and how many are not in a position to recover from this. I think it best that C-Level execs from a company like Apple with more resources than most nation states simple wish everyone the best in these extraordinarily difficult times.

 

[now i see it]

I feel great about the economy

umm, ok You're the only one on earth who does then.

 

[Haswell]

He looks so happy!

 

[ipedro]

I think he'd do a great job as a future Apple CEO. It makes me wonder if he is next in line. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in some of those BOD meetings.

I think they’ve made it pretty clear that he’s next in line. When would that be? I don’t think Tim Cook shows any indication that he’s stepping down any time soon.

I think the biggest hint came around the time that Angela Ahrendts stepped down without landing anywhere else and suddenly Jeff Williams’ public profile started growing. I felt that she was vying for the top job and Jeff Williams won out.

 

[DeepIn2U]

He didn’t really say anything. But an interview like this is just more proof that he will replace Cook as CEO when he steps down.

I don’t think there was really a pivot on Apple Watch. I think there was always a focus on fitness and health but a lot of the stuff wasn’t ready for prime time yet but Apple couldn’t wait much longer to launch the product.


I’d love to see Jeff as the CEO and maybe move Tim Cook to some sort of chairman role. Tim could manage the relationships with governments and maybe Lisa Jackson‘s work would fall under him. Or he’d keep retail and HR. The day to day operations and responsibility for products would fall to Jeff. One rumor I heard was the design team was put under him is because he has an interest in design and worked a lot with the team. It seems Jeff is more of a product guy than Tim is.

lol his interest in design only seemed to matter when I’ve started looking outside the Apple Campos 2 window more and more so to speak. Jobs’ had in interest in design and spent many hours with Ive or peaking into the design studio. Being part of the Watch design shows pushing for importance which is fine. Where was Jeff’s focus on design with the MBP, the iPhone, iPad??!! Yup none.

 

[mxrider88]

I would like to see Craig Federighi as CEO🍻, Jeff Williams would be Ok as well, isn't he a product guy, just what Apple needs, we've seen changes in hardware last 2 years, I think Jeff is behind this.

Federighi? Dear lord please no.. under his management the Apple software department turned into a total disaster..
probably it isn’t only his fault but I would not bet on him as CEO..

the best talents of Apple are long gone.. forstal, mansfield, serlet, Ive.. that was the golden age of Apple.
Nowadays they have an astonishing hardware but a shameful software..