Apple Inc has named Mr Arthur Levinson as its non-executive chairman, a move that rewards the long-time Apple board member who chose it over Google Inc when the technology giants began to compete with each other.

Mr Levinson, 61, fills the vacancy left open when co-founder Steve Jobs died last month at age 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Jobs had been chairman for less than two months, a position created when he stepped down as chief executive in August.

Mr Robert Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Co, was tapped as a director.

The appointments were announced yesterday.

Mr Levinson is Chairman of pharmaceuticals company Genentech Inc. He showed his loyalty in 2009 when a federal probe pressured him to choose between keeping his board seat at Apple or at Internet search leader Google Inc, when the companies had become rivals in mobile devices and Web browsers.

Mr Levinson said in a statement that he was honoured to be named Apple’s chairman.

“Apple is always focused on out-innovating itself ... and that is something I am very proud to be a part of,” he said.

Mr Levinson joined Apple’s board in 2000.

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