Hulman & Co. announced Thursday that it is further expanding its board of directors with the appointment of four high-profile business leaders.

John Ackerman, Jeff Belskus, Mark Miles and Jim Morris have accepted their appointments. The appointments, all effective immediately, expand the board to 11 members.

John Ackerman is the co-founder and managing director of Cardinal Equity Partners, a private investment firm established in 1993.

Belskus is a long-time Indianapolis Motor Speedway executive who replaced Tony George as president two years ago.

Mark Miles is CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. Miles also was the chairman of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee and former CEO of the ATP Tour, which helps oversee men’s professional tennis.

Morris is the president of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Prior to joining PS&E, Morris served as the executive director of the United Nations World Food Program. A long-time business and civic leader in Indianapolis, Morris also has served as president of the Lilly Endowment Inc. and as chairman and CEO of IWC Resources Corp. and Indianapolis Water Co.

Morris also has served as chairman of the Indiana University board of trustees, chairman of the Indiana State University board of trustees in Terre Haute, treasurer of the U.S. Olympic Committee and a member of the board of governors of the American Red Cross.

Hulman & Co. appointed three new directors in February 2011 to expand its board from five to eight members, but a board vacancy was created with the death of Jerry Throgmartin on Jan. 22.

Until last year, the Hulman & Co. board was dominated by Hulman and George family members. The company has various holdings in Terre Haute and Indianapolis, most notably the company that manufactures Clabber Girl products and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Our experience in the last year with an expanded board has brought about significant new opportunity and has been beneficial in taking advantage of growth opportunities for our family of companies,” said Mari Hulman George, Hulman & Co. board chairwoman.

Other than Belskus, who remains as Speedway president and CEO, the new board members will have no day-to-day management duties with Hulman & Co., and there is no change in the management structure of the company.

The board members will be assigned to advisory committees that oversee various aspects of the business to assist in establishing best practices, identifying opportunities to increase efficiency, approving policies and strategies, and providing general oversight.

Hulman & Co.'s other board members are Mari Hulman George's four children—Nancy L. George, M. Josephine George, Katherine M. George-Conforti and Anton H. “Tony” George—along with Andre B. Lacy and Michael L. Smith.