Economist Roger Ferguson has been appointed to the board of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, making him the first African-American board member in the company’s history.
According to USA Today, Ferguson will serve on the audit committee. His appointment is a milestone in Google’s efforts to bring diversity to its company and the tech industry. Ferguson has an impressive resumé, which includes being president and CEO of TIAA, a financial service giant that manages retirement investments for cultural, government, educational, and medical institutions as well as university professors and employees.
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Alphabet executive chairman Eric Schmidt said in a statement: “He has a long record of distinguished and thoughtful service in the private and public sectors, and deeply understands how technology can improve the lives of people around the world.”
Rev. Jesse Jackson also added: “We commend Alphabet for appointing Roger Ferguson, their first African-American board member. Mr. Ferguson is a distinguished leader who can help lead Alphabet into the next era. In 2015 we challenged Google to release their EEO-1 workforce report, and execute a comprehensive diversity and inclusion plan that reached not only to the workforce, but to their board room and C-suite leadership team. With today’s appointment they have done just that.”
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