Apple Makes Structural Changes to Board of Directors

Apple has reportedly reshuffled several positions on its Board of Directors, putting the company back into compliance with its own rules after the recent death of director Jerome B. York. Soon after news of York being hospitalized hit the wires in March, Apple posted an official announcement, sadly revealing that the Apple Board member had passed away.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple’s changes to its six-member board add extra duties to its co-lead directors, Avon Products Inc. Chief Executive Andrea Jung and Genentech Inc. Chairman Arthur Levinson. Intuit Chairman Bill Campbell and Mr. Levinson now co-chair the audit committee that Mr. York had led for more than 12 years.

As noted above, on March 18, Apple was sad to announce the death of Apple Board member Jerome B. (Jerry) York. As chairman, president and CEO of Harwinton Capital, York had joined Apple’s Board of Directors in 1997 and was the former CFO of IBM and Chrysler, and former vice chairman of Tracinda, Apple revealed last month. Notorious for his contributions at Chrysler and IBM during their turnarounds, York was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1938.

According to Apple’s March 18 press release, York graduated from the United States Military Academy, and received an MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Michigan. York worked his way up through Chrysler to become CFO, as he had been trained as an engineer.

“Jerry joined Apple’s Board in 1997 when most doubted the company’s future. He has been a pillar of financial and business expertise and insight on our Board for over a dozen years,” Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, stated last month. “It’s been a privilege to know and work with Jerry, and I’m going to miss him a lot.”