Yearley nominated as Heidrick independent director

Yearley was a director of JP Morgan from 1993 to 2000. He is currently a director of the aerospace firm Lockheed Martin, Marathon Oil Company, and United States Steel. He is also chairman emeritus of Phelps Dodge, a mining and manufacturing company.

Yearley will stand for election at the company's annual meeting of shareholders on May 21.

The nomination comes after a period of disarray for Heidrick's board since September 2002, when three of its members stepped down to make the board more independent.

Since then another member has resigned, citing time constraints. Earlier this month chief executive Piers Marmion also unexpectedly resigned, citing business and personal reasons. He is to stay on until in his other role as chairman until the annual meeting of the board later this year.

Gerard Roche, a director, is acting chief executive until a permanent successor to Marmion is found.