Avon Lady Joins Apple's Board

Andrea Jung of Avon (AVP) has been placed on the Apple (AAPL) board of directors. Some comment is being offered as to why this particular hook up was made. None of which I find particularly satisfying.

Yes she speaks Mandarin but can she really leverage whatever contacts she has in China from Avon to help Apple. The Chinese economy is huge and increasingly sophisticated. If Apple needed some good Chinese connections they would have reached out and appointed someone who organically operates in China.

Others point to her experience in design, fashion and connecting to women in critical demographics. Apple does not need board level expertise in fashion or design. No one is seriously complaining about Apple's design capabilities.

Avon is in a big turn around situation literally attempting to transform themselves into something new. Most if their growth seems to be outside of North America where they are reaching out to relatively unsophisticated consumers who do not have large amounts of choice. Apple competes and excels in an area with lots of choice and sophistication. In fact they set the tone for choice and sophistication.

Avon has just announced that the supposed cost cutting program will be taking a lot longer than originally anticipated. Cost cutting measures are expected to take another two to three years before they are fully realized. This is not a feather in Andrea Jung's cap.

The entire process of Board of Director recruitment is rather opaque and there does not seem to be much if any comment from Apple about the why and how come issues. When you look at sub committee appointments as shown on the Apple Corporate Governance web page Andrea Jung still does not have any responsibilities.

So basically we are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Given the responsibility that Directors have to investors, the way this appointment has been announced is disappointing.