July 1 (Reuters) - Information technology consultant

Gartner ( IT ) said on Monday that its board elected chief

executive Eugene Hall to the additional role of chair of the

board of directors, effective immediately.

Hall succeeds James Smith, who has been chairman of the

board since 2004 and will remain an independent director.

The appointment comes as stakeholders across industries have

been pushing for the separation of CEO and chairperson roles to

enhance oversight.

Hall, who has been the CEO for nearly 20 years, has overseen

a period of robust demand for Gartner's ( IT ) research and consulting

services.