Meta hires former Trump official as chief legal officer

• Meta hired C.J. Mahoney, a former Trump administration official, as chief legal officer.
• He replaces Jennifer Newstead, who is leaving Meta to become Apple's general counsel.
• The move comes as Meta faces continued regulatory scrutiny worldwide.

Meta has hired C.J. Mahoney, a former senior Microsoft legal executive and onetime Trump administration official, as its next chief legal officer, Axios reported.

Mahoney will replace Jennifer Newstead, who announced in December that she would leave Meta after more than five years to become Apple's general counsel. Mahoney is set to start on Wednesday and will report directly to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Axios report said.

"I'm excited to join Meta as it leads the way in AI innovation and continues to connect people around the world," Mahoney said in a statement that Meta shared with Business Insider. "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."

"C.J. brings world-class legal expertise, passion for frontier technology, and deep insight into the global regulatory challenges facing our industry," said Zuckerberg in a statement shared with Business Insider. "I'm looking forward to working with him to advance Meta's mission to build the future of human connection."

Mahoney previously served as Microsoft's corporate vice president and deputy general counsel and earlier worked as deputy US trade representative during President Donald Trump's first term.

In his new role, he will oversee Meta's global legal strategy as the company continues to face scrutiny over antitrust, data privacy, online safety, and the protection of children and teenagers.

Newstead's departure marked the end of a consequential period for Meta's legal team. During her tenure, the company secured a major win against the Federal Trade Commission when a federal judge rejected the agency's attempt to force Meta to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Mahoney's appointment comes as Meta continues to navigate intensifying regulatory pressure worldwide, including debates over artificial intelligence, social media governance, and data protection.

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