Apple's executive team is undergoing a significant transformation, with the company announcing the upcoming retirements of two long-serving senior leaders: General Counsel Kate Adams and Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. These departures continue a series of high-profile leadership changes at the tech giant, which also includes the appointment of Jennifer Newstead, formerly Meta's chief legal officer, as Apple's new General Counsel. The shifts come as Apple navigates increasing regulatory scrutiny and strives to strengthen its position in the competitive AI landscape.
Kate Adams, who has served as Apple's General Counsel since 2017, is set to retire in late 2026. Lisa Jackson, a key figure in Apple's environmental and social initiatives since joining in 2013, will also retire in late January 2026.
Filling the crucial General Counsel role, Jennifer Newstead will join Apple on March 1, 2026, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. Newstead brings extensive experience from Meta, where she served as Chief Legal Officer. Her background also includes significant government service, notably as the legal adviser to the U.S. Department of State, where she guided the Secretary of State on legal matters concerning U.S. foreign relations.
Her distinguished career in public service includes roles as General Counsel of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice, Associate White House Counsel, and a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Cook noted that Newstead will oversee both Apple's Legal and Government Affairs organizations.
"We couldn’t be more pleased to have Jennifer join our team," Cook stated. "She brings an extraordinary depth of experience and skill to the role, and will advance Apple’s important work all over the world."
During Adams' tenure, Apple faced a surge in antitrust regulations and lawsuits, predominantly centered on fostering greater competition within the app market.
Jackson, previously appointed to the EPA before joining Apple, spearheaded the company's climate initiatives, sustainability efforts, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-focused endeavors, such as its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. These corporate social responsibility efforts have reportedly faced headwinds under recent political administrations.
"I am deeply appreciative of Lisa’s contributions. She has been instrumental in helping us reduce our global greenhouse emissions by more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels," Cook commented. "She has also been a critical strategic partner in engaging governments around the world, advocating for the best interests of our users on a myriad of topics, as well as advancing our values, from education and accessibility to privacy and security."
Broader Leadership Shifts at Apple
These latest announcements are part of a broader series of leadership changes at Apple in recent months. The company previously announced the departure of Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams in July, with Sabih Khan taking over his responsibilities. Other notable exits include AI chief John Giannandrea, who was replaced as head of the Siri team by Mike Rockwell, and design executive Alan Dye, who moved to Meta.
Apple has also seen several key AI executives depart for Meta, including Ke Yang, who led AI-driven web search efforts, and Ruoming Pang, former head of AI models.
These leadership shifts occur as Apple faces increasing scrutiny for reportedly lagging in the AI race, evidenced by delays in an AI-powered Siri that will now utilize Google's models. The company has also drawn criticism from designers for a perceived decline in its signature attention to detail. This sentiment reportedly led to some internal relief among Apple employees regarding Dye's departure, with Stephen Lemay, a career interface and interaction designer, now taking over the role, according to a report from Daring Fireball.
