Facebook Board Gets First Non-White Director: American Express' outgoing CEO tapped to help build "a trusted brand".

• Author: Wenger, Barbara
• Position: DIRECTORS & BOARDS' DIRECTORS ROSTER

Facebook's all-white board is getting its first African American member.

Kenneth Chenault, outgoing CEO of American Express, was appointed to Facebook's Board of Directors, joining the board on February 5th, the day after Facebook's 14th birthday.

His appointment comes four months after Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg assured members of the Congressional Black Caucus that the company would hire a black board member. Her promise came on the heels of revelations that pre-election Facebook ads, funded by a Russian organization, were posted, in part, to foment racial tensions in the United States.

"I've been trying to recruit Ken for years," said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a press release. "He has unique expertise in areas I believe Facebook needs to learn and improve-customer service, direct commerce, and building a trusted brand. Ken also has a sense of social mission and integrity I admire and the perspective that comes from running an important public company for decades."

Chenault joined American Express in 1981, has been chairman and CEO since...