Apple today announced that two senior executives are leaving the company in 2026. Company Senior Vice President and General Counsel Kate Adams and Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, are both retiring next year.
Jennifer Newstead will take Adams’ place, joining Apple as a senior vice president on January 1, and will become Apple’s general counsel on March 1, 2026. Newstead is leaving Meta, where she is currently the company’s chief legal officer. She was previously the Legal Adviser to the United States Department of State.
Adams will hang around Apple for a bit longer after Newstead joins the company, as she will oversee the Government Affairs organization after Jackson retires in late January 2026. She will remain at Apple until late 2026, at which point Newstead will take over. Newstead will ultimately oversee both Apple’s Legal and Government Affairs organizations as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Government Affairs.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Jennifer join our team,” said Cook. “She brings an extraordinary depth of experience and skill to the role, and will advance Apple’s important work all over the world. We are also pleased that Jennifer will be overseeing both the Legal and Government Affairs organizations, given the increasing overlap between the work of both teams and her substantial background in international affairs. I know she will be an excellent leader going forward.
Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan will assume Jackson’s other responsibilities, including Environment and Social Initiatives. Cook said that Jackson played an important role in helping Apple achieve its environmental goals.
“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,” said Cook. “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.”
Adams joined Apple in 2017. Before that, she worked for Honeywell. Jackson joined Apple in 2013 after serving as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Apple announced earlier this week that lead interface designer Alan Dye has left the company, and AI head
Apple’s announcement comes shortly after lead interface designer Alan Dye left the company, and after AI chief John Giannandrea Giannandrea has also announced his retirement.