Yesterday, one of the world’s biggest tech companies, Apple, officially announced the retirement of its general counsel, Kate Adams, and its vice president for environment, policy, and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson.
As a replacement, the company will appoint Jennifer Newstead, who was previously the chief legal officer of Meta. Here are the details:
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The Retirement Of General Counsel And Policy Chief
On Thursday, December 4, 2025, Apple officially announced the retirement of its general counsel, Kate Adams, and its vice president for environment, policy, and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson.
After leaving Honeywell, Adams joined the company as general counsel in 2017, where she was in charge of litigation, international security, and the company’s privacy initiatives. Under Adams, the company faced growing international antitrust scrutiny and regulation, including significant legal actions in the United States regarding the limitations and costs associated with the iPhone App Store.
As for Jackson, after joining the company in 2013, she oversaw most of the company’s policy efforts in Washington, D.C., as well as its diversity initiatives. Prior to that, President Barack Obama named her to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she served as administrator for four years.
The departures of these two executives add to the list of senior leaders who are leaving the company. As previously reported in recent weeks, the company’s chief software engineer announced that he would be joining Meta, while the company officially announced the retirement of its AI chief, along with the chief operating officer.
Jackson’s departure is believed to be due to the loss of relevance of her position during the second Trump administration, which openly criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and criticized efforts to combat climate change.
As is known, Apple has faced increasing tariffs from the Trump administration, and Cook has met with President Donald Trump several times to ban the company’s manufacturing plans in America as part of an effort to influence policy.
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Apple’s Next Move: Appoints Meta’s Jennifer Newstead
Based on the reports, Jackson’s government affairs team will start reporting to Meta’s top legal officer, Jennifer Newstead, who is expected to take over as Apple’s general counsel in March.
Since 2019, Newstead, who will take over as Apple’s chief attorney, has been in charge of Meta’s legal and regulatory matters pertaining to its family of apps, which includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
According to a Meta representative, Newstead will stay in the role until the end of the year, and the company is now actively looking for a replacement.
Newstead herself was Trump’s designated legal adviser in the State Department in 2019 during the president’s first term before joining Meta.
She has held positions in the U.S. government, including partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell and legal advisor in the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Apple’s appointment of Jennifer Newstead signals potential strategic shifts in its legal and regulatory approach, as her experience at Meta may help Apple better navigate global scrutiny, strengthen compliance, and prepare for tighter digital market laws. This leadership change could also influence how Apple handles antitrust issues, privacy debates, and future policy negotiations, ultimately shaping the company’s long-term operational and competitive strategies.
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