GlaxoSmithKline CEO Emma Walmsley. (GSK Photo)

Microsoft announced big changes to its board of directors today.

Two longtime members of the board — Charles Noski and Helmut Panke — are stepping down from positions they have held since 2003. At the same time, Microsoft nominated GlaxoSmithKline CEO Emma Walmsley to join the board.

“Emma is an accomplished business leader who led major advances in research and development at GSK and will bring her significant insights and global experience to Microsoft,” John W. Thompson, Microsoft’s independent board chair, said in a statement.

Charles Noski and Helmut Panke. (Microsoft Photos)

Noski was the CFO at Bank of America and AT&T group and later served as vice chairman for both companies. Panke was once head of BMW’s U.S. operations and most recently served as chairman of its board of management. Both Noski and Panke decided not to seek re-election to Microsoft’s board.

“Chuck and Helmut have been critical and insightful directors during multiple key moments for Microsoft for more than a decade and a half, and we are grateful for their many contributions,” said Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

If Walmsley is confirmed, Microsoft will have 13 board members: eight men and five women. A decade ago, by comparison, the company had ten board members: eight men, and two women.

Women now hold 27 percent of seats on corporate boards at S&P 500 companies, compared to 16 percent a decade ago, according to ISS Analytics. Gender diversity on corporate boards hit a milestone in July when all-male boards officially disappeared from the S&P 500. Last year, California passed a law that mandated female representation on the boards of public companies in the state.

The election for Walmsley will be held during the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting in December. Panke and Noski’s terms will officially end at that time.

Here are the other members of Microsoft’s board:

  • John W. Thompson, Microsoft independent chairman;
  • Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and technology advisor;
  • Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and partner at Greylock Partners;
  • Hugh Johnston, vice chairman and chief financial officer of PepsiCo;
  • Teri L. List-Stoll, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Gap Inc.;
  • Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella
  • Sandra E. Peterson, group worldwide chair for Johnson & Johnson;
  • Charles W. Scharf, CEO of The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.;
  • John W. Stanton, chairman of Trilogy Equity Partners;
  • Penny Pritzker, founder and chairman of PSP Partners;
  • Arne Sorenson, president and CEO of Marriott International Inc.;
  • and Padmasree Warrior, CEO and chief development officer of NIO USA Inc.
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