Apple Execs Kate Adams, Lisa Jackson to Depart
The times, they keep a-changin’ for Apple.
Following the news earlier this week that John Giannandrea and Alan Dye would be moving on, Apple on Thursday announced two more members of its leadership group would be leaving in the not-too-distant future. Kate Adams, Apple’s top lawyer, and Lisa Jackson, who leads the company’s environmental and social initiative programs, both will be retiring in 2026. In Adams’ case, she’ll be replaced by Jennifer Newstead; Newstead previously worked as Meta’s chief legal officer and joins Apple next month.
Curb Cuts typically isn’t the place to read hot executive turnover news and analysis, but this week’s moves by Apple warrant exceptions for accessibility’s sake. Indeed, the exception game certainly applies in Jackson’s case, as her purview of social initiatives obviously includes accessibility. In journalistic terms, covering accessibility as I have for close to 13 years is decidedly unglamorous and non-conducive to scoops or “sources said” reporting—although I’ve had my moments in my career. That said, I can dutifully report my understanding from various sources over time during Jackson’s tenure in Cupertino is that she has long been an ardent supporter of Apple’s accessibility efforts, both in engineering and in inclusivity. Moreover, I’ve interacted with Jackson on more than one occasion, before and after media events, to exchange pleasantries and the like. During those times, Jackson has herself been emphatic about empowering the disability community and just the technical marvels so many of the actual accessibility features truly are. While Sarah Herrlinger is Apple’s public “face” when it comes to accessibility, akin to Craig Federighi with software writ large and, externally, to Jenny Lay-Flurrie at Microsoft, Jackson, from everything I’ve been told, is very much an internal champion of the cause as the proverbial sausage is being made.
Apple can be rightly criticized for lots of things—including, yes, in the accessibility space (see: Liquid Glass). But Apple’s work in accessibility is the furthest thing from performative or an empty bromide. Top to bottom, Apple truly does care about this shit.
“Apple is a remarkable company and it has been a true honor to lead such important work here,” Jackson said in a statement for Apple’s press release. “I have been lucky to work with leaders who understand that reducing our environmental impact is not just good for the environment, but good for business, and that we can do well by doing good. And I am incredibly grateful to the teams I’ve had the privilege to lead at Apple, for the innovations they’ve helped create and inspire, and for the advocacy they’ve led on behalf of our users with governments around the world. I have every confidence that Apple will continue to have a profoundly positive impact on the planet and its people.”
COO Sabih Khan will oversee Jackson’s charges following her departure, Apple said.
