Apple is undergoing a significant internal restructuring in its hardware division, led by newly elevated Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji. The changes, implemented this month, aim to accelerate development of future devices by reorganizing oversight and fostering closer collaboration between engineering, design, and silicon teams.
According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, Srouji — previously a key figure in Apple’s custom chip development — has expanded his role to oversee both hardware engineering and technologies. This shift occurs amid a broader leadership transition: longtime hardware executive John Ternus is set to become Apple’s CEO on September 1st, with outgoing CEO Tim Cook transitioning to chairman.
Key Changes in Product Design Oversight
The most notable adjustment involves product design, a critical function responsible for the look, feel, and core capabilities of Apple’s devices:
• Oversight moves from veteran VP Kate Bergeron (a longtime Ternus deputy) to two of her experienced reports: Shelly Goldberg and Dave Pakula.
• Goldberg, who previously handled Mac product design, and Pakula (responsible for Apple Watch, iPad, and AirPods) will now jointly oversee design across all Apple products.
• Richard Dinh continues to lead iPhone design.
• Bergeron shifts to a new role heading Product Reliability and Materials for the entire lineup.
These moves are designed to create a more streamlined structure, reducing layers and enabling faster decision-making.
Expanded Roles for Key Executives
Additional changes expand the scope of several leaders who will now report directly to Srouji:
• Matt Costello, who has led development of home and audio products.
• Kevin Lynch, who runs a special projects group focused on robotics and other emerging technologies.
The reorganization emphasizes tighter integration between Apple’s silicon teams (where Srouji has deep expertise) and product development groups. This alignment is expected to speed up work on AI-powered hardware, next-generation wearables, and other innovations.
Why This Matters for Apple and Its Users
Apple has faced occasional criticism for slower hardware refresh cycles in certain categories compared to its peak innovation years. By empowering deputies and flattening some reporting lines, Srouji appears to be addressing internal bottlenecks and preparing the company for the Ternus era.
For Apple product users, this could translate to:
• Quicker rollout of new features and devices.
• Better hardware-software-silicon synergy (think more efficient AI chips tailored precisely to product needs).
• Continued emphasis on premium design and reliability, now with dedicated focus under Bergeron.
MacDailyNews Take: As John Ternus prepares to step into the CEO role, these changes position Apple’s hardware engine for agility in a competitive landscape increasingly defined by AI, robotics, and advanced personal computing. We very much look forward to September 1st!
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
that picture looks like AI.
Apple’s new hardware chief is AI.
👀
My question is, “Will Apple abandon the higher end Macs?” With recent events, e.g., the abandoning of the Mac Pro and stopping sales of the higher end Studios, it appears as though Apple is going to focus on mid to low range consumer Macs.
Further when the AI bubble bursts will Apple be stuck pushing AI heavy CPUs? Since the M series is an all in one chip (CPU, GPU, and NPU), making the M series chips overly AI focused may come back to bite Apple.
While the iMac (among at least another dozen factors) saved Apple at the end of the Dark Days, there were professional PowerPC sales that were instrumental behind the scenes too. Apple needs to remember that.
If Apple abandons the high end, I will extremely reluctantly move to a LINUX box for my desktop workstation after using Macs for 42 years (and Apple ][s for five years before that).