Overview
- Apple’s COO Jeff Williams will retire by year-end, with Sabih Khan promoted to the role and Kevan Parekh stepping in as CFO.
- The departures of AI researchers Ruoming Pang and Tom Gunter have deepened concerns over Apple’s stalled AI roadmap.
- Apple’s shares have fallen 16% in 2025 as investors grow frustrated with delayed AI features and a lack of groundbreaking products.
- The board, dominated by Cook loyalists Arthur Levinson, Susan Wagner and Ronald Sugar, has shown no appetite for a change in leadership.
- Hardware chief John Ternus is viewed as the leading internal successor but lacks the operational and financial experience to take the top job.