Business News

Statement on the Appointment of Ursula M. Burns as CEO of Xerox by Carl Brooks, The Executive Leadership Council President & CEO

Monday 25. May 2009 - The following is a statement on the appointment of Ursula M. Burns as CEO of Xerox by Carl Brooks, the Executive Leadership Council President & CEO:

On behalf of the Boards of Directors, members, and staff of The Executive Leadership Council and Foundation, I congratulate our member Ursula Burns on her appointment to succeed Anne M. Mulcahy as Chief Executive Officer of Xerox Corporation. Ms. Burns has been a highly-regarded member of The Executive Leadership Council since 1998.

Anne Mulcahy has been a dynamic supporter and advocate for the mission of The Executive Leadership Council. She is also a great friend to our continuing efforts to develop and cultivate the diverse leadership pipeline of the future. We are grateful for all of her goodwill and Anne has demonstrated visionary leadership in succession planning, evidenced by the smooth transition of power between Anne and Ursula. Ursula has cultivated the strategic relationships and experience necessary to assume responsibility for taking one of the world’s leading brands into the future.

This historic transition represents a successful model in succession planning that we hope other corporations will follow. As the first African-American woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Ursula Burns is a source of motivation and pride for black women who aspire to that leadership milestone. She also serves as an outstanding example of the power of inclusive leadership.