Just a few days after the departures of AI division head John Cannandrea and design director Alan Day, Apple announced that two more senior executives will be retiring.
Kate Adams, Apple’s general counsel since 2017, will step down at the end of next year, while Lisa Jackson, vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, will leave her post in January 2026. They will be succeeded by Jennifer Newstead, former chief legal officer at Meta. She will begin her role as general counsel on March 1, 2026, reporting directly to Tim Cook.
Before joining Apple, Newstead held various senior positions, including legal counsel at the U.S. State Department, and roles at the White House and the Department of Justice. Under the new organizational structure, she will oversee both the legal department and government relations. Tim Cook praised Newstead’s appointment, noting that her experience will make a significant contribution to the company’s global operations.
These executive changes come at a time when Apple is facing strategic challenges. During Kate Adams’ tenure, the company dealt with increasing antitrust regulations and legal disputes related to the app market competition. Lisa Jackson led Apple’s climate and social initiatives, achieving a reduction of over 60% in global greenhouse gas emissions.
Recently, Apple has seen notable leadership changes. The company has faced criticism for lagging in the AI race and for decreasing attention to product details. At the same time, Apple has lost several key AI experts, including Ke Yang and Ruoming Pang, to its competitor Meta.
