The man responsible for Steve Jobs’ biggest payday is now joining the Apple board. Disney CEO Robert Iger, who acquired Pixar from Jobs, will play an ever bigger role at Apple. This is all good news, as this means more Disney, ESPN and ABC content on Apple devices, from the Apple TV, iPad and iPhone. As Apple is expected to release a real Apple TV next year, this move of adding Iger to the Apple board is very strategic.
Additionally, with the passing of chairman Steve Jobs, Genentech’s Arthur D. Levinson replaces Jobs as the Apple chairman. Levinson has served on Apple’s board since 2000, most recently served as its co-lead director along with Avon CEO Andrea Jung.
Here’s the official news:
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple® today named Arthur D. Levinson, Ph. D. as the Company’s non-executive Chairman of the Board. Levinson has been a co-lead director of Apple’s board since 2005, has served on all three board committees—audit and finance, nominating and corporate governance, and compensation—and will continue to serve on the audit committee. Apple also announced that Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, will join Apple’s board and will serve on the audit committee.
“Art has made enormous contributions to Apple since he joined the board in 2000,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “He has been our longest serving co-lead director, and his insight and leadership are incredibly valuable to Apple, our employees and our shareholders.”
“Bob and I have gotten to know one another very well over the past few years and on behalf of the entire board, we think he is going to make an extraordinary addition to our already very strong board,” said Tim Cook. “His strategic vision for Disney is based on three fundamentals: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets around the world which makes him a great fit for Apple.”
