Twitter’s finally found a way to get important people to sign up
The former chief executive (CEO) of Pearson, Dame Marjorie Scardino, has just signed up to Twitter.
@twitter Thank you. There couldn't be a more exciting time in Twitter's history to join!
— Marjorie M Scardino (@marjscar) December 5, 2013
Why? Because Twitter has just appointed her to its board of directors.
We're pleased to welcome @marjscar to our board of directors.
— Twitter (@twitter) December 5, 2013
67 year-old Scardino describes herself (on Twitter) as an "Education, technology and journalism dilettante" and "recovering CEO". She became CEO of Pearson – the FTSE 100 education and publishing company – back in 1997, stepping down last year.
In 2007, she was listed 17th on Forbes' 100 most powerful women in the world. Under her leadership, Pearson profits tripled to £942m.
Twitter, which went public this year, raising $2.09bn (£1.28bn) with an initial public offering, has been criticised recently for the lack of women on its board. Last month Sallie Krawcheck, a former Bank of America executive, said the absence was "a joke".
Scardino takes the number of people on the board to eight.