Apple Reporter

It was announced today that Andrea Jung, CEO of Avon Products, Inc. has joined Apple’s Board of Directors. Jung is the most recent addition to Apple’s Board of Directors, the previous being Dr. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google.

The announcement is important because it shows that Apple has diversity in its higher ranks. Throughout the years, Apple has been criticized for their lack of diversity in the higher-levels of their corporation. This addition shows that Apple is not just run by a bunch of shriveled up old men. From the Stevester himself:

““Andrea is a strong CEO and marketer and we look forward to benefiting from her insights and experience as a member of Apple’s board. Andrea will be our eighth board member, and I think she will add a new dimension to our already lively board discussions.”

Here’s a little info about Jung straight from the Apple press release:

“At Avon, Andrea is responsible for developing and executing all of the company’s long-term growth strategies, launching new brand initiatives, developing earnings opportunities for women worldwide, and defining Avon as the premier direct seller of beauty products. She was elected president of global marketing in 1996, an executive vice president in 1997, president and a director of the company in 1998, chief operating officer from 1998 to 1999, chief executive officer in 1999 and chairman of the board in 2001. Previously, she was executive vice president of Neiman Marcus and a senior vice president for I. Magnin.

Andrea is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University, is fluent in Mandarin and was the first woman elected chair of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association in March 2001, a role she held until early 2005.”

The article at Apple then goes on to praise Avon for its beauty products (iLotion, anyone?) and then of course, praising themselves (”Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s..”).

The current (January 7th, 2007) members of the Board of Directors at Apple are as follows:

Bill Campbell

Chairman and former CEO

Intuit Corp.

Millard Drexler

Chairman and CEO

J. Crew

Albert Gore Jr.

Former Vice President of the United States

Steve Jobs

CEO, Apple

Andrea Jung

Chairman and CEO, Avon Products

Arthur D. Levinson, Ph. D.

Chairman and CEO

Genentech

Dr. Eric Schmidt

CEO

Google

Jerry York

Chairman, President and CEO

Harwinton Capital

Thanks to money.cnn.com for providing the image provided to them by Avon.