Tesla Inc. TSLA, +4.42% said late Monday it had appointed two independent directors to its board, Linda Johnson Rice, chairman and chief executive of Johnson Publishing Co., and James Murdoch, chief executive of 21st Century Fox Inc. FOXA, -2.34% . Tesla lauded Johnson Rice and Murdoch's corporate board experiences and leadership roles. Earlier this year, Tesla faced criticism from some shareholders who urged the company to change the way it elects board members, advocating for yearly elections rather than the company's staggered-election practice. At Tesla's June annual meeting, shareholders voted to keep the board terms staggered. Shares of Tesla were flat in late trading after ending the regular session down 2.5%.