Google appoints Hollywood longtimer to board

Google Inc. has added a corporate finance specialist with deep ties to the entertainment industry to its board of directors, the Mountain View, California, company announced Tuesday.

Ann Mather, who was executive vice president and chief financial officer for Pixar Animation Studios between 1999 and 2004, joined Google’s board of directors on Nov. 22 and also will chair Google’s audit committee.

At Pixar, her responsibilities included finance, administration, business affairs, investor relations and human resources. Additionally, she served as Pixar’s main contact with The Walt Disney Co. for distribution matters related to the two companies’ co-production agreement.

Mather is currently on the board of directors of Central European Media Enterprises, which, along with partners, operates 10 television stations in six countries in Central and Eastern Europe. She also serves on its audit and compensation committees.

She was a Shopping.com director from May 2004 until that company was acquired by eBay Inc. in 2005. She chaired Shopping.com’s audit committee and belonged to its corporate governance and nominating committee.

With Disney in the 1990s, Mather held various executive jobs, including senior vice president of finance and administration for the company’s Buena Vista International Theatrical Division. Mather also worked for Paramount Pictures in the 1980s in London, Amsterdam and New York.