Twitter adds BET's CEO to board, bolstering diversity and media chops
Twitter is quickly proving that its board is more than just a "country club of old white guys."
Debra Lee, the CEO and chairman of BET (Black Entertainment Television), has joined Twitter's board of directors, the company announced Monday.
The move bolsters Twitter's media chops and just as importantly diversifies the board to be a better reflection of the diverse community Twitter serves. Lee is Twitter's first African-American board member.
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"Debra's addition strengthens our Board immensely," Omid Kordestani, Twitter's Executive Chairman, said in a statement. "She's a highly respected leader in the media industry with decades of experience, and has a clear passion for Twitter as a service and a company."
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Twitter had been rumored to be looking to add an exec from a prominent media company to its board. It just took a few months longer than expected.
Twitter, in the midst of a long turnaround, increasingly resembles a traditional media company (not unlike its chief competitor Facebook) so it makes sense they would want a media executive or two on board.
The social media firm has invested in live video, purchased NFL streaming rights and begun playing a more active role in curation with the launch of Moments.
Lee's addition also helps address a lingering complaint from investors and industry watchers alike that Twitter lacks diversity at the top.
For much of its history, Twitter was made up primarily of white men, three of whom were named Peter. Now it has three women, one of whom is African American, and one Iranian-American man... and yeah, still a few white guys.
Progress!
Lee has repeatedly discussed the importance of diversity in the entertainment industry, with wisdom that could just as easily apply to Twitter and the technology industry more broadly.
"From just a business perspective, diversity is crucial," Lee said in one interview. "It’s [also] important for us as a country to represent all aspects of our culture and to have those important stories told."
An added coup: Unlike some of her predecessors, Lee is actually an active Twitter user herself.
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Seth Fiegerman was a Senior Business Reporter at Mashable, where he covered startups, marketing and the latest consumer tech trends. He joined Mashable in August 2012 and is based in New York.Before joining Mashable, Seth covered all things Apple as a reporter at Silicon Alley Insider, the tech section of Business Insider. He has also worked as a staff writer at TheStreet.com and as an editor at Playboy Magazine. His work has appeared in Newsweek, NPR, Kiplinger, Portfolio and The Huffington Post.Seth received his Bachelor of Arts from New York University, where he majored in journalism and philosophy.In his spare time, Seth enjoys bike riding around Brooklyn and writing really bad folk songs.
