Kevin Lynch

Kevin Lynch is an Apple executive who oversees the company's robotics device efforts, work aimed at using AI technologies to power devices. He helped establish one of the first Mac software startups in 1984, worked at General Magic on handheld communicators with mobile agents, and led Dreamweaver and introduced Flash at Macromedia. After becoming Adobe's chief technology officer in 2008, he joined Apple as vice president of technology in 2013 and led development of the Apple Watch software. From 2021 he ran Project Titan, Apple's car effort, pushing for a first model with full self-driving until Apple wound the project down in 2024. Since May 2026, he reports directly to Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji.

Now at: Apple
Badges: Founder

Timeline

By 1996

Mac software and General Magic

He studies computer science and interactive computer graphics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, working in its Electronic Visualization Laboratory. In 1984, he helps establish Mac3D, one of the first Mac software startups, and later develops the first Mac release of FrameMaker at Frame Technology. In the mid-1990s, he works at General Magic on handheld personal communicators with multimedia email, network services and mobile agents.
1996–2005

Dreamweaver and Flash at Macromedia

He joins Macromedia in 1996 and leads its move to web publishing, including the creation of the Dreamweaver HTML authoring tool. Flash, which he introduces to enable multimedia on the web, eventually reaches over 1 billion people. Adobe acquires Macromedia in 2005.
2005–2013

Chief technology officer at Adobe

After Adobe's $3.4 billion acquisition of Macromedia, he becomes Adobe's chief software architect in 2005 and helps develop AIR, a cross-OS application runtime. Promoted to chief technology officer in 2008, he helps define Creative Cloud and leads the development of Marketing Cloud as Adobe moves toward cloud-based products. At Adobe, he champions Flash and debates Apple CEO Steve Jobs publicly over Apple hindering its use on the iPhone and iPad.
2013–2014

Apple Watch software

In March 2013, he leaves Adobe to become Apple's vice president of technology, reporting to Bob Mansfield. He leads development of the Apple Watch software and demonstrates the watch at Apple's September 2014 launch event.
2017

An honorary UIC doctorate

In May 2017, the University of Illinois at Chicago awards him an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree at its College of Engineering ceremony, for his work in software development. By 2017, he focuses at Apple on the software of the Apple Watch and the company's health software.
2021–2024

Leading Project Titan

He joins Apple's car team in July 2021 to manage its software, and takes over the whole project in September 2021 when Doug Field leaves for Ford. By November 2021, he is pushing for a car with a full self-driving system in its first version. In February 2024, he and COO Jeff Williams tell nearly 2,000 employees that Project Titan is winding down, with many shifting to Apple's AI division to work on generative AI.
2024–2025

Apple's robotics group

By August 2024, he oversees Apple's tabletop robot, a home device with an iPad-like display on a thin robotic arm that would use Siri and Apple Intelligence. His robotics group works on ways to use AI technologies to power devices, and in April 2025 Apple plans to move it from John Giannandrea's AI organization to the hardware division under John Ternus.
Since May 2026

Robotics under Johny Srouji

In May 2026, Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji reorganizes Apple's hardware division to speed up work on future devices and brings him into his direct reporting chain. He runs a special projects group and continues to oversee Apple's robotics device efforts.