GM’s Barra Joins Walt Disney Board

General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra has joined the board of directors of entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. as its 12th member.

The Disney board is searching for a new CEO to succeed Robert Iger, 66, whose contract will expire in July 2019. Barra also will assist in Disney’s efforts to defend its television and movie empire against such digital services as Netflix.

Barra does not sit on any other corporate board beyond GM’s. At Disney she joins three other powerful women: Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook Inc.’s chief operating officer; Susan Arnold, an operating executive with private equity investor Carlyle Group; and Maria Elena Lagomasino, CEO of WE Family Offices, an advisory firm for high net worth families.