Apple reshuffles leadership after Jeff Williams's departure

A major change is coming to Apple. Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer and a fixture at the company for decades, will be leaving his position in 2025. His departure will not only result in personnel changes but also new responsibilities within the leadership team. Responsibility for key areas such as design, software development, health technology, and services will be redistributed, with several well-known names taking center stage.

Jeff Williams's resignation will change Apple's organizational structure. Various executives will assume greater responsibility in the future. Some of these shifts have already been announced, while others are the result of internal restructuring. One thing is clear: Apple is using this opportunity to consolidate responsibilities and reorganize its leadership team. The focus will be on areas such as design, Apple Watch, health features, services, and operations in China.

Design teams report directly to CEO Tim Cook

Previously, the design teams reported to Jeff Williams. In the future, they will once again be led directly by CEO Tim Cook. This structure was already in place between 2015 and 2017. Nevertheless, some day-to-day operations will change. Alan Dye, Vice President of Human Interface, and Molly Anderson, VP of Industrial Design, will assume more operational responsibility. Both are among the company's most experienced professionals and have been involved in central design processes for years.

Hardware and Health under new leadership

Williams has been closely involved in the development of the Apple Watch and its health features in recent years. Since 2022, John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, has been responsible for the Apple Watch. He is now considered one of the most important minds in the company and a potential successor to Tim Cook. There are also changes in software. Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, will take over leadership of watchOS development and the health software group under Evan Doll. In addition, Dr. Sumbul Desai's team, which focuses on health products, will also fall under Federighi's responsibilities. This will further integrate hardware, software, and health features.

Fitness+ becomes part of Apple Services

The Apple Fitness+ fitness service will be integrated into the existing services division, which already includes Apple TV+, iCloud, and Apple Music. Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Services, is responsible for this. The integration of Fitness+ is intended to create synergies with the other subscription services. This is a logical step for Apple, as the company continues to focus on recurring revenue through subscription models.

Sabih Khan takes over central operations areas

Sabih Khan, currently Senior Vice President of Operations, will succeed Jeff Williams directly. In addition to his current responsibilities, he will also lead the AppleCare team. He will also lead the Greater China team, which previously reported to Jeff Williams and Tim Cook. Khan brings extensive operational experience and is known for his attention to detail in the supply chain.

Rumors about a possible Cook successor

Williams's departure also raises the question of who might one day replace Tim Cook as Apple's CEO. Currently, John Ternus is considered the most promising candidate. He is 50 years old, responsible for hardware development, and has gained visibility in recent years. However, there is no indication that Cook will step down in the near future. The current restructuring is purely operational, not the result of a strategic shift on the board.

Apple is more successful than ever – thanks to Tim Cook

Apple focuses on continuity with a clearer cut

Jeff Williams's departure is a turning point for Apple. At the same time, the reassignment of responsibilities demonstrates the company's commitment to continuity and expanded responsibilities for its experienced executives. Design, Software, Health, and Services will be more clearly structured and specifically strengthened at the leadership level. This will position Apple strategically and broaden its leadership for the coming years – without fundamentally changing the existing leadership team. (Image: Shutterstock / Droneandy)