Do you think Apple is governed exclusively by its directive? Have you ever thought about who actually makes the decisions and negotiates with investors? This is not Tim Cook. If you’ve seen shows like “Succession,” you’ll know that there’s always a board of directors, a group of CFOs who act as an investment portfolio but also play a key role in decision-making.
They constitute a kind of round table. And they all stand out for their merits. Today we want to talk about one of these legendary figures, someone who is very little talked about, who is less known but who pulled the strings many investments in Apple. We are talking about James Aaron Bell, a born businessman.
Who is James A. Bell?
James Aaron Bell, born June 4, 1948 in Los Angeles, California, is one of those business executives who would never be noticed if you passed him on the street. After all, he is a gentleman in a suit who does not like to attract attention. However, the youngest of four brothers was always involved in risky debates. His mother worked for the government and his father was a well-known Democrat.
During his student years, he had already shown the makings of a leader and became president of the high school student body. In 1971, Bell earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, Los Angeles, a partial scholarship that helped finance his first year of college. The second, he had already found his life’s work: in 1972, he joined Rockwell International as an accountant.He then became a senior internal auditor of the company, from there director and finally director of general accounting of the company.
When Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace giant and the largest manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft, struck a deal with Rockwell in 1996, it also hired Bell. By 2000, he was senior vice president of finance and chief business officer. Yomo remained chief financial officer (CFO) until 2005, when he was urgently appointed interim chairman and CEO. after the famous 737 Max crisis. Yes, back when the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines 737 broke apart in mid-flight.
And that was until 2012, when he retired, while retaining his seat on the boards of directors. And not just Boeing: his point of view and his role as a political animal too kept him on as chairman of JP Morgan Chase and Dow Chemical Company…and Applewhere he was recognized as “the only African-American person on Apple’s board of directors.”
2014, the year of change
In 2014, Apple’s board committed to increasing its diversity and did so by appointing James Bell to its team. Here’s how Tim Cook defined it: “James brings extensive global, financial and industry experience from his successful career at Boeing as president and CFO.” Oh well.
Bell himself returned the ball by reminding that technology will not progress without adaptation in an ever-changing world. Moreover, he was a strong advocate for investing in education and opportunity for underserved communitiesbased on his own experience.
Because while James Bell has never been short of housing, he is the spitting image of an intern who ends up holding administrative positions at hospitals like Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, the largest bank in the United States, the highest-rated technology company in history and being a key mentor at WISE Emerging Leaders, the famous “school for leaders.”
There is, however, a long-standing rule at Apple that requires him to resign from his position. As a statement released in early 2024 states, “the board of directors is governed by a long-standing rule that its members are elected.” They cannot be re-elected after the age of 75.“and that means Al Gore and James Bell have to give up their chairs in favor of figures like Dr. Wanda Austin, former CEO of The Aerospace Corporation.
Portada | Cliff from “I now live in Arlington, VA (outside Washington DC)” for Wikimedia
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