Apple’s design team is moving back up the ladder to answer to the CEO for the first time in years. Here’s what it could mean.

Apple has announced that Sabih Khan, the company’s vice president of operations, will take over for Jeff Williams as chief operating officer later this month. In an announcement on Tuesday, Apple said the move is part of a “long-planned succession” that has Williams retiring at the end of this year.

Jeff Williams is stepping down from his post as chief operating officer at Apple, the company announced today. Sabih Khan, senior vice president of operations for the company, will take over the COO title later this month.