Intel elects ambassador to its board

She was the US trade rep and a member of the president's cabinet from 1997 to 2001. In that role she was the chief US trade negotiator and policy maker, so the advantages to a firm like Intel are plain.

Barshefsky also serves on the board of directors of American Express, Estee Lauder, Idenix Pharmaceuticals and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

Meanwhile, Winston Chen, a board member of Intel since 1993, will retire from the firm's board come May.

The list of board of directors is here. It currently includes several outsiders, including cigar smoking John Browne, chief executive of BP. µ