Executive Shakeup at Apple: A Period of Transition
The ongoing reshuffle within Apple’s executive ranks is marked by significant departures and new leadership appointments. In an era characterised by fluidity, the tech giant continues to adapt, as two high-profile executives prepare to retire, and a new general counsel is set to assume her role.
Jennifer Newstead will step in as general counsel on March 1, 2026, following her ascension to senior vice president in January.
Reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook, Newstead brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as chief legal officer at Meta and held various influential positions within the U.S. government.
Kate Adams, who has helmed Apple’s legal team since 2017, is poised to retire late next year. Until her departure, she will maintain oversight of Government Affairs, a division that will transition under Newstead’s purview when she officially takes on her new responsibilities.
Upon this transition, Newstead’s title will expand to include oversight of Government Affairs as these departments converge.
Additionally, the company is preparing for the retirement of Lisa Jackson, who has been the stalwart vice president in charge of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. She is scheduled to conclude her tenure in late January 2026, at which point her teams will report to Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan.
Cook has expressed gratitude towards Adams and Jackson for their invaluable contributions, commending Newstead for her “extraordinary depth of experience and skill.” The departing executives echoed similar sentiments, taking pride in their teams’ achievements as they prepare for new horizons.
Below is a timeline encapsulating the executive transitions and exits at Apple thus far in 2025:
- January 1, 2025 – CFO Luca Maestri transitioned from finance to lead corporate services, with Kevan Parekh assuming the CFO role.
- July 7, 2025 – Ruoming Pang, leader of Apple’s AI Foundation Models Team, was recruited by Meta’s Superintelligence division, departing with approximately 100 engineers focused on Apple Intelligence features.
- July 8, 2025 – COO Jeff Williams announced his intention to retire after a storied 27-year career, officially stepping down at the end of July while advising on design and health until November 15.
- September 2, 2025 – AI robotics lead Jian Zhang exited after a decade, joining Meta’s Robotics Studio amid a broader trend of talent migration towards leading AI firms.
- October 2025 – Ke Yang, who was recently appointed to lead Siri’s Answers, Knowledge, and Information team, was lured away by Meta to enhance its user experience in AI.
- December 1, 2025 – SVP John Giannandrea retired from his role overseeing machine learning and AI strategy, transitioning to an advisory capacity until spring 2026, with Amar Subramanya succeeding him under Craig Federighi.
- December 3, 2025 – Human Interface Design VP Alan Dye departed for Meta, taking on the role of Chief Design Officer, with his deputy, Billy Sorrentino, also heading to Meta.
- December 4, 2025 – SVP and General Counsel Katherine Adams announced her retirement effective late 2026, with Jennifer Newstead set to fill her expanded legal and government affairs role starting March 1, 2026.
- December 4, 2025 – VP Lisa Jackson confirmed her retirement for late January 2026 after 12 years leading environmental and policy initiatives, with responsibilities shifting between Sabih Khan and Jennifer Newstead.
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