James Bell, Former Boeing CFO, Joins Apple Board of Directors

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced on Thursday that it has added the former chief financial officer of Boeing Co.

Earlier this year, Jackson attended Apple’s annual shareholder’s meeting and called on the world’s most valuable company to nominate a black executive to its board of directors.

The first African-American on Apples board, Bell became Boeings finance chief after an Air Force purchasing scandal sent a predecessor to jail.

The Apple board of directors also includes former Northrop executive Ron Sugar, BlackRock co-founder Sue Wagner, Grameen’s president and CEO Andrea Jung, and Al Gore. Apple and many other major Silicon Valley firms have been working to balance their predominantly white and male composition. Apple has committed to bring more diversity to the workplace, this time doing so at its leadership level. “I am delighted to join the Apple board and look forward to contributing to its continued success in any way I can”.

Mr. Bell also expressed his enthusiasm at the move, in these words: “I am an avid user of Apple products and have a tremendous respect for the company’s ability to innovate”.

Bell commanded Boeing Shared Services and Boeing Capital Corporation during his 38-year career at The Boeing Company, and he was also chosen as the interim CEO in 2005, after Harry C. Stonecipher’s resignation and the arrival of James McNerney as the new CEO.

Bell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the California State University in Los Angeles, according to the press release.