Software company CEO joins ConocoPhillips board

American energy corporation ConocoPhillips has elected the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of ClearStory Data Inc. to serve as a member of its board of directors.

ConocoPhillips said on Wednesday that Sharmila Mulligan was elected to the board of directors.

Mulligan spent her career building innovative software companies, most recently founding ClearStory Data Inc. in 2011. She previously served in senior roles at numerous software companies, including Aster Data, Hewlett-Packard, Netscape and Opsware Inc.

Ryan Lance, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips, said: “We are pleased to add a new director who brings technology expertise to our board. Sharmila’s experience in cloud computing, scalable data analytics and a broad range of big data technologies will add exceptional value to our board of directors as we increasingly utilize our global data assets to monitor and optimize our operations.

“We look forward to her contributions as we continue to execute the company’s value proposition to deliver double-digit returns to our shareholders.”

Mulligan also serves on the board of Lattice Engines and serves as an advisor to numerous other technology companies. She holds bachelors’ degrees in business and economics, as well as computer science, from Northwestern University and a master’s in management from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

The latest appointment increases the number of ConocoPhillips directors to 11, ten of which are independent. Apart from her role on the board, Mulligan will serve on ConocoPhillips’ Audit and Finance Committee and the Public Policy Committee.