The COO’s exit raises questions about the future of the Apple Watch

Apple got it wrong in yesterday’s CEO transition announcement. Design, which previously reported to COO Jeff Williams, will soon report to CEO Tim Cook, but the press release stopped short of explaining where some of Williams’ responsibilities will go when he leaves.

What happened to Apple Watch and Health after the COO change?

Operations veteran Sabih Khan will take over as COO later this month, but Jeff Williams will move around the company until the end of the year to oversee the company’s non-functional areas: design, Apple Watch, and Health.

Williams will continue to report to Apple CEO Tim Cook and oversee Apple’s world-class design team and the company’s Apple Watch and health initiatives. Apple’s design team will transition to reporting directly to Cook after William’s retirement later this year.

The next item in the press release is a quote from Tim Cook praising Williams’ accomplishments at Apple, including his work on the Apple Watch and Health.

“Jeff and I have worked together for as long as I can remember, and Apple would not be what it is without him. He helped build one of the most respected chains in the world; he launched the Apple Watch and oversaw its development; he built Apple’s health strategy; and he led our world-class design team with great wisdom, heart, and dedication,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

The next and final mention of the Apple Watch comes in a section summarizing Williams’ contribution to Apple:

He led the Apple Watch effort over the past decade and built the company’s health strategy, helping customers live healthier lives, learn more about their health, and receive life-saving care.

Apple left no doubt who will oversee design next year when Cook takes over, but who is overseeing the Apple Watch and Health programs? Williams is stepping down as COO this month but keeping the Apple Watch and Health oversight means Khan is not inheriting those responsibilities. Apple also did not say whether the Apple Watch and Health will go to Khan or Cook after Williams exits at the end of 2025.

The leadership changes reflect Ternus’ growing brand commitments

Perhaps those answers will be determined at a future date, but Mark Gurman at Bloomberg shared a tidbit on the X that may solve the puzzle of the press release. According to Gurman, the Apple Watch hardware was under John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Engineering.

Ternus took over from Dan Riccio in 2021 and has since been tipped as a potential successor to Tim Cook. Cook is about to mark 14 years in the role and shows no signs of stepping down in the next 12 months.

Gurman’s reporting that the Apple Watch hardware was “given to Ternus years ago” gives Ternus more credibility as a brand name. His leadership page bio, written in 2021, doesn’t mention the Apple Watch, although one might say the Apple Watch is listed under ‘other,’ or not explicitly listed. It says Ternus “leads all hardware engineering, including the teams behind iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and more.”

Gurman speculates that Craig Federighi will inherit watchOS and Health, while Fitness+ will move to Services. The Apple Watch was originally launched under the leadership of Kevin Lynch, who reported to Williams. Lynch now runs Apple’s robotics division reporting to the aforementioned John Ternus after a stint leading Apple’s unshipped car project.