Apple announces 2026 exits for Kate Adams and Lisa Jackson, marking a significant restructure across legal, policy, and environmental leadership

Apple is beginning to map out its next chapter as two of its senior leaders, Kate Adams and Lisa Jackson, prepare to step away in 2026. Their upcoming departures add to a wave of executive movement that has reshaped the company throughout the year.

Adams, Apple’s general counsel since 2017, will soon begin transitioning her role to Jennifer Newstead. Newstead, who currently oversees legal strategy at Meta, is scheduled to join Apple at the start of the new year and is expected to take full responsibility for the legal organization in March 2026. Adams will stay on for several months afterward to guide Apple’s Government Affairs group until her retirement at the end of the year, creating a phased handoff as the company reorganizes how it manages global legal and policy challenges.

Jackson, who has led Apple’s environmental, policy, and social efforts since 2013, will conclude her tenure in early 2026. Under her leadership, Apple advanced its climate goals, expanded its public sustainability commitments, and played a larger role in international policy discussions. After she steps down, Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan will take over her areas of responsibility.

Tim Cook expressed confidence in the decision to place both legal and government affairs under Newstead’s direction, noting the increasingly intertwined nature of regulatory issues, global policy work, and Apple’s long term strategy. Newstead’s background in international law and government positions signals a more unified approach as Apple navigates mounting regulatory pressure and worldwide scrutiny.

These shifts arrive amid broader leadership changes. Several executives in design, AI, operations, and finance have already revealed plans to leave, and ongoing speculation continues around Cook’s future at the company. With multiple transitions happening at once, Apple is entering a period where new leadership will help shape how the company responds to competitive, political, and technological challenges in the years ahead.