Priem fills the vacancy created when EMC founder Richard J. Egan retired from the board to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. In addition, Joseph F. Oliveri, recently resigned from EMC's board.

Priem has spent the past 25 years at Korn/Ferry, the world's largest executive recruiting company, including a two-year term as president and CEO. He led Korn/Ferry's initial public offering in 1999. He now serves as the firm's vice chairman and director.

"(Priem) is a seasoned, independent professional who has proven himself not only as CEO of a public company, but also as an individual specializing in the critical area of human capital -- the single most important ingredient for success in a world-class business," said Mike Ruettgers, EMC's executive chairman.

The 64-year-old Priem also serves as a trustee of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and on the board of overseers of the Lahey Clinic. He holds an engineering degree from WPI and an MBA from Babson College.

He also completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School, and spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy.