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Apple's Executive Exodus: Top Legal and Environment Vets Retire
5 Dec, 2025
Summary
- General Counsel Kate Adams and VP Lisa Jackson are retiring.
- Jennifer Newstead joins from Meta as new General Counsel.
- Apple faces leadership changes amid AI race and regulatory scrutiny.
Apple is experiencing a significant executive shake-up, with the upcoming retirements of key figures Kate Adams, its General Counsel since 2017, and Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. Adams is set to retire late next year, while Jackson will retire in late January 2026. These departures follow other recent high-profile exits from the technology giant.
Filling the General Counsel role, Apple has appointed Jennifer Newstead, who most recently served as Meta's chief legal officer. Newstead, a seasoned legal professional with extensive government experience, will officially join Apple on March 1, 2026, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. Her appointment signals a strategic move to bolster Apple's legal and global affairs departments.
The company is undergoing these leadership changes amidst a challenging period, including intensified antitrust scrutiny and fierce competition in the artificial intelligence field. Jackson's tenure was marked by significant environmental achievements, while Adams navigated the company through complex legal battles.
