SWORDS, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The shareholders of Ingersoll-Rand plc (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, have elected Elaine Chao and Linda Hudson as members of the Board, effective immediately.
“Elaine Chao and Linda Hudson bring extraordinary leadership expertise, board experience and valuable perspective that is relevant to Ingersoll Rand. They reinforce our board in the areas of global competitiveness, operations, international geopolitical dynamics, defense and engineering sectors and workforce development,” said Michael W. Lamach, chairman and chief executive officer. “Elaine’s distinguished career in the public, private and nonprofit sectors will provide extensive knowledge regarding macroeconomic, labor and employment trends, workforce health, safety, and benefits and competition in a worldwide economy. Linda’s innovative leadership in strategic planning, risk management, operations, technology and services in complex global business environments will provide us with important insight on matters critical to our business. We are delighted to have both join our outstanding Board.”
Secretary Chao will serve on the Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. Ms. Hudson will serve on the Audit and Finance Committees. Their appointment to the Ingersoll Rand Board of Directors is part of the Board’s ongoing succession planning process, following the normal retirements of Ted Martin and Edward Hagenlocker who served on the Ingersoll Rand Board of Directors for 19 and seven years, respectively.
“We have been fortunate to have Ted and Ed on the Ingersoll Rand Board,” said Richard Swift, lead director for Ingersoll Rand. “Their long-term tenure on the Board brought valuable insight and expertise to the company across all operational and financial matters. We thank them for their exemplary service and wish them well in future endeavors.”
Elaine L. Chao, former U.S. Secretary of Labor
Secretary Chao was the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor, serving from 2001 to 2009, and the first Asian Pacific American woman to be appointed to a President’s cabinet in American history. She presently serves as chairman of the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Foundation, a family foundation. From 1996 to 2001 and from 2009 to 2014, Secretary Chao was a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation. She served as president and chief executive officer of United Way of America from 1992 to 1996. Her previous government experience includes serving as director of the Peace Corps; deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation; and chairman, Federal Maritime Commission. Secretary Chao was also vice president of syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and a banker with Citicorp.
Secretary Chao served on a number of public boards prior to government service. Currently, she is a director of News Corp, Vulcan Materials Company, Wells Fargo and a board member of several nonprofit organizations including Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Institute of Politics; Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors and Harvard Business School Board of Global Advisors for the Asia Pacific Region. Secretary Chao received her undergraduate degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College and her Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
Linda P. Hudson, Chairman and CEO of The Cardea Group and former president and CEO of BAE Systems, Inc.
Ms. Hudson is chairman and chief executive officer of The Cardea Group, LLC, a management and leading consulting business she founded last year. She served as president and chief executive officer of BAE Systems, Inc. (BAE), a U.S.-based subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, a publicly-traded global defense, aerospace and security company headquartered in London, from 2009 through 2014. During this time she served as a member of the executive committee and as an executive director of BAE Systems. Ms. Hudson served as president of BAE Systems’ Land and Armaments operating group, the world’s largest military vehicle and equipment business, from 2007 to 2009.
Prior to joining BAE, Ms. Hudson worked at General Dynamics Corporation and was president of its Armament and Technical Products business. During her career, she has held various positions in engineering, production operations, program management and business development for defense and aerospace companies.
Ms. Hudson is a director on the boards Bank of America and Southern Company. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Florida Foundation, Inc., the University of Florida Engineering Leadership Institute and the Center for a New American Security, a non-partisan research institute that develops national security and defense policies. Ms. Hudson received her undergraduate degree in systems engineering from the University of Florida and holds honorary doctorates in engineering and science from the University of Florida and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, respectively.
About Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com.