Apple Inc.’s executive in charge of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, Tang Tan, is rumored to be stepping down in February, as reported by Bloomberg from anonymous sources. If true, this would mark another high-profile departure for the tech giant, following the recent retirement of Steve Hotelling, who worked on Touch ID. As Vice President of Product Design, Tan has played a crucial role in shaping the features and engineering of the iPhone and Apple Watch, as well as overseeing the design of some accessories and managing the team behind the development of AirPods. Tan reports to John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, and his departure may lead to expanded roles for deputies under Ternus, such as Richard Dinh, who oversees Product Design for the iPhone, and Kate Bergeron, who could take over Apple Watch design. Additionally, Matthew Costello may take on responsibility for accessories design and the acoustics team’s management. Ternus has been leading hardware engineering since 2021 and has recently made changes to other parts of the organization, potentially signaling more leadership changes to come in the near future.
