Apple’s Board Names Arthur Levinson Chairman, Disney CEO Robert Iger Added

Apple has put out a press release to name Arthur D. Levinson as the Board’s new chairman, plus the addition of Disney’s CEO and President, Robert A. Iger, as an addition to the board’s 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.”

“I am honored to be named chairman of Apple’s board and welcome Bob to our team,” said Art Levinson. “Apple is always focused on out-innovating itself through the delivery of truly innovative products that simplify and improve our lives, and that is something I am very proud to be a part of.”

“Apple has achieved unprecedented success by consistently creating high quality, truly innovative products, and I am extremely pleased to join the board of such a wonderful company,” said Bob Iger. “Over the years, I have come to know and admire the management team, now ably led by Tim Cook, and I am confident they have the leadership and vision to ensure Apple’s continued momentum and success.”

It was revealed in the Steve Jobs biography that Bob Iger played a critical role in Disney’s aquisition of Pixar, Steve Jobs’ animation darling. Iger revealed to Jobs that Disney badly needed Pixar, years back during a trip to Hong Kong. 

Here’s how Steve Jobs felt about Iger:

“That’s why I just loved Bog Iger…he just blurted it out. Now that’s the dumbest thing you can do as you enter a negotiation, at least according to the traditional rule book. He just put his cards out on the table and said, ‘We’re screwed.’ I immediately liked the guy, because that’s how I worked too. Let’s just immediately put all the cards on the table and see where they fall.”

Apple’s relationship with Disney has been reflected in the exclusive content we’ve seen added to Apple products, ever since the introduction of TV episodes and movies when the iPod Video was announced (remember episodes of Lost on your tiny iPod screen?).

…developing

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