Air Fiorina takes flight on Big Board

HP's CEO Carly Fiorina has been tapped as one of two new members joining The New York Stock Exchange's board.

The addition of Fiorina and Jeffrey Greenberg, CEO of Marsh & McLennan, brings the NYSE board member total to 21. The Big Board has been reorganizing its structure since word of former Chairman Dick Grasso's massive $188m pay package got out. The NYSE board has been split into two groups with one set of members handling regulatory issues and another set watching market issues.

Fiorina's presence will no doubt add a bit of humor to the boardroom. The NYSE brass can giggle over the 2002 voicemail in which Fiorina called for "something extraordinary" from her CFO to nudge investors in the right direction during HP's vicious proxy battle to buy Compaq.

Or the board could share a gut laugh over HP's own executive compensation.

NYSE CEO John Thain is clearly hoping for the best.

“The NYSE is privileged to have Carly and Jeff join our Board of Executives,” Thain said.  “We look forward to their contributions to the Exchange and believe their insights will be valuable.

Fiorina will have to work hard to clear her calendar for the NYSE duties. She is already helping President George put a man on the moon and also works in an advisory capacity for California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It's lucky Fiorina has a little help gettiing around. ®

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