(Bloomberg) -- Automatic Data Processing Inc. rejectedactivist investor Bill Ackman’s nominees for the board ofdirectors, saying his candidates are no improvement on the currentboard members.

ADP will instead nominate its 10 existing directors forre-election at the annual meeting, the Roseland, New Jersey-basedcompany said in a statement Monday. In spurning Ackman’scandidates, the board voted unanimously to follow therecommendation of its nominating and corporate governancecommittee, according to the statement.

“We have determined that adding Mr. Ackman’s nominees would notbe an improvement,” ADP Chairman John P. Jones said in thestatement. “Unlike Mr. Ackman’s nominees, ADP’s directors have adeep understanding and appreciation of the current state of ADP’sbusiness and its clients.”

Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management this month unveiledan 8 percent stake in ADP and began a campaign to shake up theoutsourcing giant. The stock could more than double by 2021 if ADPcan fix the “buy not build” strategy that has left it riddled withinefficiencies, Ackman has said. He proposed himself, VeronicaHagen and Paul Unruh for the board.

Ackman said in a 3 1/2-hour conference call Thursday that hispush for change at the payroll and human-resources outsourcerhas been met by hostility from management and skepticism fromanalysts. Ackman added that he believes ADP will probably need anew chief executive officer.

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