Diversifying Apple

Many tech companies have long been criticised for the lack of diversity at the top. Notable exceptions are Meg Whitman at eBay and Carly Fiorina at formerly at HP. This is due to change with the appointment of Andrea Jung, chairman and CEO of Avon Products, to Apple’s board of directors. Andrea Jung is said to help tapping new markets: not only does she speak Mandarin fluently, she could also be a real asset in marketing technical products to women. Avon is after all a provider of beauty products through a direct seller networks referred to as the ‘Avon ladies’. Does this mean more pink laptops for women? Hopefully not. After Millard Drexler joined Apple’s board, Apple opened its retail stores. At that time most people thought it was a crazy idea but they seem to be rather successful. Andrea Jung is an experienced marketer and she will surely come up with very creative strategies to market technology to women.