Meta has hired C.J. Mahoney as chief legal officer, replacing Jennifer Newstead who has left to join Apple.
Mahoney is moving over from Microsoft, where most recently he was general counsel for product, services and go-to market legal. Prior to his time at Microsoft, Mahoney spent almost three years as a deputy US trade representative in the Executive Office of the President during Donald Trump’s first administration.
At Meta, he will take on responsibility for all of the firm’s legal and regulatory matters.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, said: “C.J. brings world-class legal expertise, passion for frontier technology and deep insight into the global regulatory challenges facing our industry. I’m looking forward to working with him to advance Meta’s mission to build the future of human connection.”
Mahoney spent five years at Microsoft across a number of roles, including as deputy GC for cloud and AI, and deputy GC for international trade and Azure. Prior to his trade work with Trump, Mahoney was a partner at US litigation firm Williams & Connolly. Earlier in his career, he spent a year clerking in the Supreme Court for Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Mahoney said: “I’m excited to join Meta as it leads the way in AI innovation and continues to connect people around the world. As I close an incredible chapter at Microsoft and begin a new one at Meta, I’m grateful for the trust Mark and the board have placed in me.”
Newstead, meanwhile, announced her move to Apple last month to replace outgoing GC Kate Adams.
Newstead spent six and a half years at Meta, having previously been a legal adviser at the US Department of State. She also previously worked in the White House as a special assistant to the president during George W. Bush’s administration.
Last month, Meta’s senior manager for AI policy Gretchen Greene left to join Ropes & Gray as its chief of artificial intelligence.
Mahoney’s former company Microsoft also changed its legal head last year following the departure of former CLO Hossein Nowbar, promoting GC Jonathan Palmer to the role in September. Nowbar departed after two years as CLO but more than two decades with the company.
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