How to Issue a Press Release to Announce a New Board Member

Press Releases Announcing New Board Members

Announcing new board members through a press release is a critical communication task that can significantly impact your organization’s public image and stakeholder relations. This guide will walk you through the process of creating and distributing an effective board member announcement that achieves your strategic objectives.

Understanding the Strategic Importance of This Press Release

The announcement of new board members represents more than just an organizational change—it’s a strategic opportunity to reinforce your company’s direction and demonstrate governance strength. A well-executed press release can signal organizational maturity and stability to investors, showcase the diverse expertise joining your leadership team, generate valuable media coverage, and position your organization as an attractive destination for top talent.

Pre-Writing Preparation

The foundation of an effective board member announcement lies in thorough preparation and information gathering. Begin by collecting comprehensive biographical information for each new board member, including their current professional role, previous board experience, educational background, notable achievements, and community involvement. This information should paint a complete picture of why each individual brings value to your board.

You’ll also need carefully crafted quotes from key figures, including the new board members themselves, your board chair or CEO, and potentially the nomination committee chair. These quotes should speak to both the strategic value of the appointments and the new members’ enthusiasm for joining your organization.

Additionally, gather contextual information about the appointments, such as the strategic reasons behind them, specific committee assignments, start dates, and how these additions affect overall board composition. This context helps stakeholders understand how the new appointments fit into your organization’s broader strategy.

Before proceeding with drafting, secure necessary approvals from all relevant parties. This includes the new board members themselves, your legal department, current board leadership, corporate communications team, and, when applicable, the new members’ current organizations. Having these approvals in place early prevents delays and complications during the announcement process.

Writing the Press Release

The structure of your press release should follow a clear, professional format that makes the information easily accessible to media outlets and other stakeholders. At the top, include your company logo, a “For Immediate Release” statement, and clear contact information. The release date should be prominent, followed by a compelling headline and subheadline that capture the essence of the announcement.

Your lead paragraph must immediately convey the key information: your organization’s name, the announcement of the appointment(s), the new members’ names and current roles, effective date, and a brief statement of strategic significance. This paragraph should answer the essential who, what, when, and why questions that readers need to know.

The body of your press release should expand on these elements, providing detailed background on each new board member while maintaining a clear narrative thread that connects their appointments to your organization’s strategic objectives. Include meaningful quotes that add personality and insight to the announcement. These quotes should go beyond generic statements of excitement to provide genuine perspective on the value and impact of the appointments.

Board Member Announcement Press Release Structure and Format

1. Header Elements:

• Company logo
• “For Immediate Release” statement
• Release date
• Headline and subheadline

2. Lead Paragraph:

• Organization name
• Announcement of appointment(s)
• New member name(s) and current professional role(s)
• Effective date
• Brief statement of strategic significance

3. Body Content:

• Detailed background on each new board member
• Strategic rationale for the appointment(s)
• Quote from board chair or CEO
• Quote from new board member(s)
• Committee assignments
• Impact on board composition
• Relevant organizational context

4. Boilerplate:

• Standard company description
• Stock symbol (if public)
• Website and social media handles

5. Contact information

• Complete contact information for the person who will handle press inquiries

Writing Style Guidelines

• Maintain a professional, objective tone
• Use active voice and clear, concise language
• Focus on factual information rather than promotional language
• Keep paragraphs short (2-3 sentences)
• Include specific details that demonstrate value
• Ensure all names and titles are spelled correctly
• Use present tense for quotes and announcements

Press Release Templates

Here are three press release templates announcing new board members to make your job easier:

Template 1: Formal Announcement

Template 2: Casual and Engaging Announcement

Template 3: Brief and Direct Announcement

Your Press Release Distribution Strategy Is Key to Success

Timing and channel selection are crucial elements of your distribution strategy. If your organization is publicly traded, coordinate the release timing with stock exchange requirements. Consider industry news cycles and competing announcements to maximize visibility. Plan for simultaneous internal and external communication to ensure all stakeholders receive the information appropriately.

Your distribution channels should include:

• Professional wire services and targeted media contacts, using a press release distribution service like eReleases.com to significantly increase your reach and impact.
• Your company website newsroom
• Social media platforms
• Direct distribution to key media contacts
• Internal communication channels
• Regulatory filings (if required)

Preparing Supporting Materials and Follow-up

Yes, time is of the essence in these types of announcements, but success in announcing new board members extends beyond the press release itself. Prepare supporting materials including professional photos, updated board member biographies, social media templates, and internal FAQs. These materials help ensure consistent messaging across all channels and prepare your organization for follow-up inquiries.

The follow-up phase is crucial for maximizing the announcement’s impact. Monitor and engage with media coverage, facilitate introductions between new board members and key stakeholders, and update all relevant digital properties to reflect the changes. Keep track of responses and engagement across different channels to measure the announcement’s effectiveness.

Best Practices for Success

Writing style is paramount in board announcement press releases. Maintain a professional, objective tone while allowing your organization’s personality to show through. Use active voice and clear, concise language that avoids industry jargon. Each paragraph should be focused and purposeful, typically no more than two to three sentences.

When discussing the strategic value of new board members, be specific about their contributions while avoiding overly promotional language. Connect their expertise directly to your organization’s goals and challenges. If the appointments enhance board diversity or bring unique perspectives, highlight these aspects naturally within the broader context of board effectiveness and organizational strategy.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Experience shows that several common mistakes can diminish the impact of board member announcements. Rushing the release before securing all approvals, including excessive promotional language, or failing to highlight strategic significance can all undermine your message. Additionally, overlooking key stakeholders in the review process or neglecting to prepare for follow-up questions can create unnecessary complications.

Measuring Impact

The success of your board member announcement can be evaluated through several metrics, including media coverage quality and quantity, social media engagement, website traffic to board-related pages, and stakeholder feedback. For public companies, market response may also be relevant. Track these metrics to refine your approach for future announcements and demonstrate the communication’s effectiveness to stakeholders.

Making a Successful Board Member Announcement

By following these guidelines while maintaining flexibility to address your organization’s specific needs, you can create and distribute board member announcements that effectively communicate these important changes while maximizing their strategic value. Remember that these announcements often serve as the first public introduction of new board members as representatives of your organization, making it crucial to execute the communication thoughtfully and professionally.