Key Takeaways
- Executive Retirements: Apple’s general counsel, Kate Adams, and its vice president for environment, policy, and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson, are retiring from the company.
- New Leadership: Meta’s chief legal officer, Jennifer Newstead, will join Apple as its new general counsel in March, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook.
- Role Consolidation: Newstead will also oversee government affairs, a responsibility previously managed by Jackson’s team.
- Wider Trend: These departures are the latest in a series of high-profile executive exits from the iPhone maker, including its heads of AI, operations, and software design.
Apple announced a significant leadership transition on Thursday, with general counsel Kate Adams and policy chief Lisa Jackson set to retire. In a major move, the company has hired Jennifer Newstead, Meta’s chief legal officer, to step in as its new top lawyer.
The change comes at a pivotal time for Apple and marks the latest in a string of departures from its senior leadership team. Both Adams and Jackson were key figures who reported directly to CEO Tim Cook.
Jennifer Newstead to Take the Helm
Jennifer Newstead will officially join Apple as its new general counsel in March. Since 2019, she has managed the legal and regulatory challenges for Meta’s entire family of apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Before her time at Meta, Newstead served as a legal advisor at the State Department during the first Trump administration. Her extensive government experience also includes roles as a partner at the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell and as general counsel of the White House Office of Management and Budget. A Meta spokesperson confirmed Newstead will remain with the company through the end of the year while it searches for her replacement.
A Look at the Departing Leaders
Kate Adams and Lisa Jackson have guided Apple through critical periods of legal scrutiny and policy shifts during their tenures.
Kate Adams’ Legal Legacy
Adams joined Apple as general counsel in 2017. She has been instrumental in navigating the company through complex legal battles, including rising antitrust scrutiny and major lawsuits in the U.S. and Europe concerning its App Store policies and fees.
Lisa Jackson’s Policy and Social Initiatives
Jackson came to Apple in 2013 after serving four years as the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama. She spearheaded Apple’s environmental initiatives, including its goal to become carbon neutral, and led its diversity and social justice programs. Jackson was also a key figure in launching Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative in 2020.
A Pattern of Executive Exits
These retirements follow several other recent high-level departures from Apple. In recent weeks, the company has announced the retirement of its AI chief and chief operating officer, while its head software designer left to join Meta. This leadership shuffle suggests a period of significant change for one of the world’s most influential tech companies.
Image Referance: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/04/apple-announces-departure-lisa-jackson-kate-adams.html
