Jennifer Newstead, the former chief legal officer at Meta, will join Apple as SVP from January before transitioning to general counsel by March 2026.
Newstead is to succeed Kate Adams who is retiring from her role as general counsel. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO says that he is ‘incredibly grateful to her for the leadership she has provided, for her remarkable determination across a myriad of highly complex issues and above all, for her thoughtfulness, her deeply strategic mind and her sound counsel.’
Newstead was most recently chief legal officer at Meta and previously served as a legal adviser to the US Department of State.
In her new role she will ‘be overseeing both the legal and government affairs organizations, given the increasing overlap between the work of both teams and her substantial background in international affairs,’ adds Cook.
Meanwhile, NYSE-listed software company Asana has named Katie Colendich as its new general counsel following the resignation of Eleanor Lacey.
Colendich will assume the new role as of January 1, 2026, with Lacey to stay with the company through to March 31, 2026 as part of the transition process.
Prior to her appointment, Colendich served as Asana’s deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary, head of corporate and product/AI. Before joining the company, she was VP and associate general counsel of corporate securities, finance and global governance at HP. Colendich also served as director and senior counsel of corporate securities and M&A at Hewlett-Packard Company.
Over at insurer Everest, Attila Kerényi has been named as group chief risk officer overseeing the company’s global enterprise risk management function.
He joins from Swiss Re’s property and casualty reinsurance business where he also served as chief risk officer. Prior to this, he also held the role of chief risk officer for asset management and alternative capital partners as well as on the board of directors of several regulated reinsurance carriers and insurance-linked securities investment entities.
Staying in the US, the Warren Buffet-owned conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway has appointed its first SVP and general counsel.
Snap alumni Michael O’Sullivan will assume the role as of January 1, 2026, after exiting the social media company in September.
According to an announcement issued by Snap, O’Sullivan’s appointment ushers in the creation of a new role at Berkshire Hathaway, which since its launch has primarily used external legal counsel for its corporate matters.
Meanwhile, Nasdaq-listed biotech company PepGen has named Joseph Vittiglio as chief business and legal officer.
Vittigliojoinsthe companyafter providing consulting support to the company in 2025. Prior to his formal appointment, he served as chief business and legal officer as well as corporate secretary at bluebird bio. Before this, he served as chief business and legal officer at Finch Therapeutics and chief business officer and general counsel atAMAG Pharmaceuticals.
Staying in the medical industry, Tonix Pharmaceuticals has named Irina Ishak as general counsel, leading the company’s legal, corporate governance and compliance functions.
Ishak joins Tonix from the law firm Lowenstein Sandler, where she served since 2013 as senior counsel. During this time, she has advised Tonix since 2017 in structuring and negotiating financing, licensing and other strategic transactions.
Prior to this, she was senior director, legal and assistant corporate secretary at Savient Pharmaceuticals.
Over in Australia, PolyNovo, a medical technology company, has appointed Amy Demediuk as company secretary and general counsel.
Confirmed in an ASX announcement, Demediuk will enter the role as of February 16, 2026.
Before joining PolyNovo, she served as general counsel for global R&D and strategy, for global biotech company, CSL.
During her tenure, she held various counsel roles supporting CSL’s Australian operations, including CSL’s corporate, R&D, plasma and influenza manufacturing businesses. She also led CSL Behring’s legal team supporting all manufacturing and commercial activities across the Asia Pacific region and led the legal team supporting global R&D and corporate development initiatives.
Elsewhere, Tasha Matharu – the current deputy general counsel and corporate secretary of S&P Global – has been appointed chief legal officer of Mobility, effective January 1, 2026.
Finally, Carlyle general counsel veteran Jeffrey Ferguson is set to retire in 2026 after a 27-year tenure. Carlyle is undergoing a search to find Ferguson’s successor.