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Apple restructures board in wake of Jerry York's passing

Apple recently repositioned several of its board members to bring the company back into compliance with its own governance guidelines after the sudden death last month of long-time director Jerome York left a void in its leadership.

As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, Apple's website indicates that Avon Chief Executive Andrea Jung, a co-lead director, has been added to the company's audit committee and also appointed chair of the compensation committee, replacing Intuit Chairman Bill Campbell.

Her co-lead director, Genentech Chairman Arthur Levinson, now co-chairs the audit committee with Campbell that York had presided over for more than 12 years. Levinson also remains a chair person on Apple's Nominating Committee.

According to his wife Eilene, York collapsed at his Rochester, Michigan home this time last month and was transferred to Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital by emergency services. He passed away two days later as a result of a massive cerebral hemorrhage he suffered during the collapse.

The former chairman, president and CEO of Harwinton Capital, York joined Apple’s Board of Directors in 1997 when the company was in shambles. He is widely acknowledged for his contributions to the electronics maker during its turnaround, as he similarly was at both IBM and Chrysler, where he held the role of chief financial officer.

Apple has yet to name York's successor and the Journal notes that it's unclear whether it will do so. A person familiar with the matter told the paper that Apple "hasn't yet hired a search firm to fill Mr. York's vacancy and is more likely to tap personal connections to find a candidate, as it has in the past."



35 Comments

anantksundaram 18 Years · 20391 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider

A person familiar with the matter told the paper that Apple "hasn't yet hired a search firm to fill Mr. York's vacancy and is more likely to tap personal connections to find a candidate, as it has in the past."

First piece of advice, fwiw: stay away from the US hardware/software industry.

Second piece of advice, fwiw: You are a global company. Put a non-US person on the Board. Send a signal. (My recommendation: Narayana Murthy; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._R._Narayana_Murthy).

striker_kk 15 Years · 246 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by anantksundaram

First piece of advice, fwiw: stay away from the US hardware/software industry.

Second piece of advice, fwiw: You are a global company. Put a non-US person on the Board. Send a signal. (My recommendation: Narayana Murthy; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._R._Narayana_Murthy).

Why the particular candidate for recommendation?

esummers 15 Years · 952 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by anantksundaram

First piece of advice, fwiw: stay away from the US hardware/software industry.

Second piece of advice, fwiw: You are a global company. Put a non-US person on the Board. Send a signal. (My recommendation: Narayana Murthy; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._R._Narayana_Murthy).

Sounds like a bad idea. Is he going to teleconference all the meetings or fly in for them? Although Apple hires many people who have immigrated from India, they have very little presence in India. If they were to have a foreign board member (that is okay with the SEC right?), it would make more sense to have someone from China on their board.

souliisoul 15 Years · 827 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by esummers

Sounds like a bad idea. Is he going to teleconference all the meetings or fly in for them? Although Apple hires many people who have immigrated from India, they have very little presence in India. If they were to have a foreign board member (that is okay with the SEC right?), it would make more sense to have someone from China on their board.

Apple computers are used by majority of people in Bollywood industry and seem as premium computer. A large number of graphic, artistic people use Apple. There are many retailers and Croma, the large Electronic store in india, a joint venture by TATA & Woolworth (Australia) have a full range of selection of Apple products, which appeal is growing very fast.

Not sure were you get your information from.

P.S. Narayana has houses and business in US, like many Indian companies/successful people and traveling is not an issue. He would work his schedule to fit necessary meetings like any good corporate businessman.

Here are some facts on Narayana http://www.infosys.com/about/managem...na-murthy.aspx

anantksundaram 18 Years · 20391 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by striker_kk

Why the particular candidate for recommendation?

Did you have the chance to look at the link? Anyway, see below.

Quote:
Originally Posted by esummers

Sounds like a bad idea. Is he going to teleconference all the meetings or fly in for them? Although Apple hires many people who have immigrated from India, they have very little presence in India. If they were to have a foreign board member (that is okay with the SEC right?), it would make more sense to have someone from China on their board.

Teleconference? Problem flying in for meetings? OK with the SEC? Quite apart from the fact that these are non-issues in a modern global corporation, Infosys is a $36B mkt cap, Level 3 ADR, listed on the NASDAQ (http://www.google.com/finance?client=ob&q=NASDAQ:INFY). It is commonly acknowledged to be one of the great companies of the world.

It had nothing to do with the fact that the guy is Indian. He is non-US, well-known, and widely respected globally. That aside, I was simply looking for someone who is a visionary, out-of-the-box, socially-conscious, ethical, superbly intelligent, entrepreneur/leader who understands cross-border business, and his name came to mind.

Do you have any suggestions from China (or elsewhere) that fit the bill? If so, please suggest them.