Apple confirms more leadership departures as Lisa Jackson retires and Meta’s Jennifer Newstead joins as General Counsel

Apple has announced significant changes in its executive team, revealing that Lisa Jackson, the vice president for Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, will retire in late January 2026. This news comes amid a series of high-profile departures, including former COO Jeff Williams, AI chief John Giannandrea, and design head Alan Dye, who has transitioned to Meta. In conjunction with Jackson's retirement, Apple has appointed Jennifer Newstead, currently the chief legal officer at Meta, as the new general counsel, effective March 1, 2026. She is set to succeed Kate Adams, who has served as Apple’s top lawyer since 2017 and plans to retire next year. This strategic move indicates Apple's intent to restructure responsibilities within its core teams. As part of this transition, Government Affairs will be under the temporary leadership of Adams for the upcoming year before Newstead takes over. Her role will evolve to include senior vice president of both General Counsel and Government Affairs, effectively merging the legal and policy functions. Jackson, who brought her expertise from the US Environmental Protection Agency during part of President Obama's administration, joined Apple in 2013 and has significantly impacted the company’s environmental initiatives since becoming policy chief in 2015. Meanwhile, Sabih Khan, who recently became the chief operating officer following Jeff Williams' retirement, will now oversee the Environment and Social Initiatives teams. This leadership overhaul marks one of the most critical shifts in Apple's executive ranks in recent years, highlighting the company's response to regulatory challenges, global policy dynamics, and a changing product strategy.