Apple is undergoing a significant reshuffle of its management team. According to an official statement from the company, two senior executives have decided to retire as part of the company’s executive reshuffle. This development ushers in a new era for the company’s legal and environmental policies.

Apple Executive Change and New Appointments

Apple’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Kate Adams, and Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, have announced their retirements in 2026. These departures initiate a planned transition within the company’s senior leadership.

The name of Kate Adams’s replacement is quite striking. Jennifer Newstead, currently chief legal officer of Meta, will join Apple as senior vice president effective January 1, 2026. Newstead will officially take over as Apple’s general counsel on March 1, 2026. The experienced legal professional previously served as Legal Counsel at the United States Department of State.

The transition will be gradual. Even if Adams relinquishes her general counsel role, she will not leave the company immediately. Following Lisa Jackson’s retirement in late January 2026, Adams will continue to oversee the Government Relations organization. When Adams leaves office in late 2026, Jennifer Newstead will assume expanded responsibility, heading both Legal and Government Relations.

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that merging the Legal and Government Relations departments was a logical step due to the increased collaboration between the two teams. Cook expressed his pleasure at Jennifer Newstead joining the team, emphasizing that her extensive experience in international relations will be a significant asset to Apple.

Furthermore, Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan will take over Lisa Jackson’s responsibilities in environmental and social initiatives. Tim Cook highlighted Jackson’s critical role in Apple’s 60 percent reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2015 levels and thanked her for her contributions.

This wave of change at Apple isn’t limited to just these two names. The company was recently in the news with the departures of interface designer Alan Dye and AI chief John Giannandrea. There’s also talk of retiring Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri. Rumors are even circulating in tech circles that CEO Tim Cook could step down as soon as 2026.

So, what are your thoughts on Apple’s executive changes? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!