Home Depot appoints new independent director to its board

<p>The Home Depot Inc., the nation's largest home improvement store chain, said Friday it appointed a new director to its board as part of a planned process to replace four existing directors who will retire over the next 18 months.</p><p>The retiring directors are John L. Clendenin, 72; Claudio X. Gonzalez, 72; Milledge A. Hart, III, 72; and Kenneth G. Langone, 71.</p><p>The Atlanta-based company's rules say that any director reaching the age of 72 in the calendar year immediately preceding the next annual shareholders meeting is not eligible for nomination.</p><p>The new director appointed Friday is Helen Johnson-Leipold, 49. She is chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson Outdoors Inc., a recreational products company, and chairman of Johnson Financial Group, a financial services company.</p><p>Johnson-Leipold's husband, Craig Leipold, is the owner of the Nashville Predators, a National Hockey League team, according to the team Web site.</p><p>With the appointment, The Home Depots board consists of 13 members.</p><p>The company operates more than 2,100 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico.</p>