Google gets VMware founder on board

Google today announced a new member for its board of directors, bringing in the co-founder of virtualisation giant VMware.

Diane B. Green was one of the five founders of VMware in 1998, which also included her husband Mendel Rosenblum. She ran the company as chief executive (CEO) from the beginning, through its EMC acquisition and up until 2008, when she handed over the reigns to Paul Maritz.

However, it is not just her experience with virtualisation that Greene will bring to the board. She has a Master of Science degree in computer science from Berkeley, a Master of Science degree in naval architecture from MIT and a BA in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont.

Greene was also CEO at VXtreme and held technical positions at Silicon Graphics, Tandem Computers and Sybase.

"Diane is a special person who combines a sharp business acumen with a brilliant technical mind," said Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google.

"We know she will be a great contributor and we are grateful to have her insight."

Greene also showed her enthusiasm for joining the board, adding: "Google is an asset to society because of its relentless focus on improving users' lives through pioneering technology, and it is also a standout growing business."

"It is incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to support this as a board member."

She will take her seat on the board this month, joining other high profile tech industry heavyweights such as Paul Otellini CEO of Intel and Shirley M. Tilghman president of Princeton University.