Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, will retire in late January 2026, ending a transformative 13-year tenure that reshaped the company’s approach to sustainability, social responsibility, and climate leadership.
Jackson, who previously served as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama, joined Apple in 2013. She quickly became the public face of Apple’s environmental mission and a central figure behind the company’s ambitious “Apple 2030” goal to make every Apple product carbon neutral by the end of the decade. She was also a familiar presence at Apple keynotes, most memorably appearing in the company’s 2023 “Mother Nature” sketch alongside CEO Tim Cook.
Major Achievements Under Lisa Jackson
During her leadership, Apple achieved historic milestones across sustainability and social initiatives:
- Emissions Reduction: Apple cut its global greenhouse gas emissions by over 60% compared to 2015 levels, driven by cleaner manufacturing and product efficiency improvements.
- 100% Renewable Energy: Jackson oversaw Apple’s transition to 100% renewable electricity across its corporate operations and encouraged hundreds of suppliers to do the same through Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program.
- Racial Equity and Justice Initiative: In 2020, she launched Apple’s $100 million REJI program, aimed at dismantling systemic barriers in education, housing, and entrepreneurship.
- Material Circularity: Apple accelerated its use of 100% recycled cobalt, tin, and rare earth elements in key device components, advancing the company’s circular economy goals.
Apple Restructures Leadership After Jackson’s Departure
Instead of naming a single successor, Apple is restructuring Jackson’s responsibilities across two senior executives. Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan will oversee environmental and social initiatives, embedding sustainability deeper into Apple’s operations and global supply chain. Meanwhile, Jennifer Newstead, Apple’s incoming Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Government Affairs leader, will assume responsibility for government affairs starting March 1, 2026, following the retirement of current General Counsel Kate Adams.
Newstead previously served as Meta’s Chief Legal Officer and brings extensive experience in regulatory and public policy matters to Apple.
Why This Change Matters
Placing environmental leadership under Apple’s COO signals a strategic shift from long-term policy setting to execution at scale. By integrating sustainability directly into product manufacturing and operations, Apple aims to make climate responsibility a default part of how every device is built not just a corporate promise.
As Apple pushes toward its 2030 carbon neutrality goal, Lisa Jackson’s legacy leaves the company positioned as one of the most influential climate leaders in global technology.
