ISLAMABAD: Indra Nooyi, the PepsiCo chairman and CEO, has been appointed to the International Cricket Council (ICC board) as its first independent female director. Nooyi, whose appointment was unanimously confirmed in a meeting on Friday, will join the board in June 2018. Last year, the ICC had approved a wide list of changes to its governance structure, including the expansion of its Board to 17 directors: 12 Full Members, three Associates, the ICC chairman, and an independent director who must be a woman. In November 2017, the ICC opened the recruitment process for the post. “I love the game of cricket,” Nooyi said. “I played it as a teenager and in college, and to this day, I cherish the lessons the game taught me about teamwork, integrity, respect, and healthy competition. I am thrilled to join the ICC as the first person to be appointed to this role. And I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board, ICC’s incredible partners, and cricketers around the world to grow our sport responsibly and give our fans a new reason to follow every ball and shot,” she added. ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said in a statement: “We are delighted to welcome Indra to the ICC. Adding another independent director – particularly a female – is such an important step forward in improving our governance. To have someone of Indra’s calibre is fantastic news for the global game – she is frequently recognized as one of the most influential people in business today, running one of the world’s biggest corporations.” The independent director will be appointed for a two-year term, and may be reappointed for two further terms with a maximum six-year consecutive period of service. Published in Daily Times, February 10th 2018.