Apple CEO Tim Cook liet recent al een paar keer weten dat hij diversiteit in het bedrijf erg belangrijk vindt, dus toen er geruchten gingen dat hij op zoek was naar nieuw bloed voor het bestuur lag het voor de hand dat hij er graag een geschikte vrouw voor zou willen hebben. Want de leiding van Apple bestond tot voor kort alleen uit mannen, waarbij het in het bestuur vooral om oudere mannen ging.

Daar kwam een tijdje geleden al een beetje verandering in toen Andrea Jung aan het bestuur van Apple werd toegevoegd , en niet zo lang geleden was dat Angela Ahrendts bij de managers, en nu is Susan L. Wagner ook lid van het bestuur van Apple geworden, waardoor nu twee van de acht bestuursleden vrouwelijk zijn.

De toevoeging van Sue Wagner aan het bestuur betekent ook het aftreden van Bill Campbell, die maar liefst 17 jaar in het bestuur van Apple zat. Hij was daarmee het langst zittende bestuurslid bij Apple ooit. Apple heeft bij dit vertrek van Bill Campbell, en het aantreden van Sue Wagner, een persbericht verstuurd, dat is hieronder in zijn geheel te lezen:

Sue Wagner Joins Apple's Board of Directors

Bill Campbell Retiring After 17 Years of Service

CUPERTINO, California - July 17, 2014 - Apple® today announced that Susan L. Wagner, founding partner and director of BlackRock, has been elected to Apple's board of directors. Bill Campbell, the board's longest-serving member, is retiring after 17 years of service.

Wagner co-founded BlackRock in 1988 and helped it become one of the world's most successful asset-management companies, holding a range of leadership positions including vice chairman until mid-2012. She continues to serve on the boards of BlackRock and DSP BlackRock (India), as well as Swiss Re, Wellesley College and Hackley School.

"Sue is a pioneer in the financial industry and we are excited to welcome her to Apple's board of directors," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We believe her strong experience, especially in M&A and building a global business across both developed and emerging markets, will be extremely valuable as Apple continues to grow around the world."

"We conducted an exhaustive search for someone who would further strengthen our board's breadth of talent and background, and we are delighted to have identified such an outstanding individual," said Art Levinson, Apple's chairman. "I'm confident that Sue is going to make an important and positive impact on our company."

"I have always admired Apple for its innovative products and dynamic leadership team, and I'm honored to be joining their board," said Wagner. "I have tremendous respect for Tim, Art and the other board members, and I look forward to working with them."

Wagner graduated with honors from Wellesley College with a BA in English and Economics, and earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago. She has been recognized as one of Fortune Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and honored by the National Council for Research on Women. At BlackRock, she championed and continues to support the Women's Initiative Network, designed to foster the full potential of women within the company.

Bill Campbell's relationship with Apple dates back to 1983, when he joined the company as vice president of Marketing. Next to Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula, Campbell is the longest-serving board member in the company's history.

"Bill's contributions to Apple are immeasurable and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude. On behalf of the board and the entire company, I want to thank him for being a leader, a mentor and a friend," said Cook. "When Bill joined Apple's board, the company was on the brink of collapse. He not only helped Apple survive, but he's led us to a level of success that was simply unimaginable back in 1997."

"Over the past 17 years, it's been exciting to watch history unfold as Apple emerged as the premier technology company in the world. Working with Steve and Tim has been a joy," said Campbell. "The company today is in the best shape that I have seen it, and Tim's leadership of his strong team will allow Apple to continue to be great going forward."