COO Exit creates unanswered questions about Apple Watch and Health Future

Apple made an interesting omission in yesterday’s announcement of the Chief Operating Officer’s transition. The design, previously reported to COO Jeff Williams, will soon be reported to CEO Tim Cook, but the press release has halted in explaining where Williams will go when other product liability for the product is gone.

What happens to Apple Watch and Health after COO migration?

Operations veteran Sabi Khan will take over COO later this month, but Jeff Williams will hang around the company throughout the year to oversee the company’s non-operational areas, including design, Apple Watch and health.

Williams continues to report to Apple CEO Tim Cook, where he will oversee Apple’s world-class design team and Apple Watch along with the company’s health initiatives. Apple’s design team will then move on to Cook’s direct reporting after Williams retires at the end of the year.

The next part of the press release is a quote from Tim Cook, who praises Williams’ achievements at Apple, including his work with Apple Watch and Health.

“Jeff and I have worked with each other as long as I remember, but Apple wasn’t without him. He helped create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world. He launched the Apple Watch, overseeing Apple’s health strategy, and led a team of world-class designers with great wisdom, heart and dedication.

The next final mention of the Apple Watch can be found in the section summarizing Williams’ contributions at Apple.

He led the Apple Watch effort over a decade ago, building the company’s health strategy, helping customers lead healthier lives, learn more about health, and get life-saving care.

Apple left no doubt that Cook will take over next year and who will oversee the design, but who will oversee the Apple Watch and Health initiatives? Williams has stepped out of the COO role this month, but maintaining Apple Watch and Health’s oversight means Khan has not inherited those responsibilities. Apple also did not say that Apple Watch and Health would go to Khan or Cook after Williams came out at the end of 2025.

The leadership change reflects increased product liability for Ternus

Perhaps these answers should be decided in a future day, but Bloomberg’s Mark Garman shares X’s information that probably solves the puzzle in the press release. According to Gurman, the Apple Watch hardware is under John Ternus, Apple’s hardware engineering SVP.

Ternus took over Dan Richio in 2021 and is later said to be Tim Cook’s successor. Cook is approaching nearly 14 years in the role, with no indication of resigning in the next 12 months.

According to a report by Gurman that the hardware on the Apple Watch was “gifted to Ternus a few years ago,” Ternus gives it even more credibility as a so-called product person. His leadership page, written in 2021, Bio, does not mention the Apple Watch, but can be speculated that the Apple Watch is included in “above” but is not explicitly listed. Ternus “leading all hardware engineering, including teams like iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods and more.”

Gurman speculates that Craig Federighi will inherit Watchos and Health, and Fitness+ will move to the service. The Apple Watch was originally shipped under the guidance of Kevin Lynch, who reported to Williams. Lynch currently runs Apple’s robotics division. This is reported to the aforementioned John Ternus after a brief stint leading Apple’s endless automotive project.