Apple has named Arthur D. Levinson as the company’s non-executive chairman of the board. Levinson will be taking up this new role after the death of the company’s visionary co-founder and chairman of the board Steve Jobs last month.  

Levinson has been a co-lead director of Apple’s board since 2005 and has served on all three board committees, namely audit and finance, nominating and corporate governance, as well as compensation. He will continue to serve on the audit committee.

The Cupertino-based iPhone and iPod maker also revealed that Robert A. Iger, president and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, will join Apple’s board and will serve on the 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,” stated Tim Cook. “His strategic vision for Disney is based on three fundamentals: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilising the latest technology, and expanding into new markets around the world which makes him a great fit for Apple.”

Art Levinson added: “I am honored to be named chairman of Apple’s board and welcome Bob to our team. 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.”

 

In related news Apple has recently introduced its iOS 5.0.1 update that brings an array of bug fixes and enhancements to the mobile operating system, but doesn’t address the battery life issues some iPhone 4S users have been experiencing.