On Apple's Board, Fewer Independent Voices
The death of Apple Inc. (AAPL) director Jerome York last week has left the company with fewer independent voices, putting it in conflict with its own board’s rules and renewing concerns about the board’s ability to oversee strong-willed Chairman and Chief Executive Steve Jobs.
Mr. York, a former finance chief for Chrysler Corp. and International Business Machines Corp., headed the Apple board’s audit committee for more than 12 years. He died from a brain aneurysm at the age of 71.
Apple’s time frame for finding a new board member, and even whether it will seek one, is unclear. Apple directors haven’t hired a search firm to recruit a new director, but the Cupertino, Calif., company typically prefers to tap its own network and conduct its own search, industry recruiters said. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.
