Apple’s chief operating officer plans to hand the role off this month and retire later this year after roughly a decade as the tech giant’s No. 2 under Chief Executive Tim Cook.

The departure of Apple's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams later in 2025 will set the stage for more consolidation under other veteran executives. Here's what projects are expected to land on other desks.

Mr. Williams was long considered a leading candidate to replace Tim Cook as the company’s next chief executive.

Apple COO Jeff Williams, once seen as Tim Cook’s natural successor, is retiring this year. With no clear backup plan in place, attention has shifted to hardware head John Ternus. Tim Cook is expected to continue leading Apple for the next few years.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is under growing scrutiny from analysts and investors despite a recent management shakeup, according to Benzinga. Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson is one of the few analysts with a Sell rating on Apple stock.

John Ternus, once a relatively low-profile executive at Apple, is now considered by the rumor mill as the leading candidate to succeed CEO Tim Cook. His rise comes in the wake of COO Jeff Williams's retirement announcement—an event that has reshuffled expectations within Apple's leadership ranks.

Apple’s most worrisome weaknesses are on display, from a lackluster AI strategy to a string of executive departures.