New Board Member Press Release Guide 2024 [+ Examples]

By Intelligent Relations Team

December 23, 2022

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Do you have a well-respected member joining your company’s board of directors? Great! Writing a press release about it is a great way to create a positive buzz around your business.

But announcing a new board member shouldn’t be a bland bio or simple list of accolades — it requires a blend of flair and formality. In the art of crafting a board member press release, think of it as introducing the latest star in your organizational constellation. 

Picture this: a carefully woven narrative that combines corporate pedigree with a dash of personality, like you’re revealing a secret ingredient in your organization’s recipe for success. 

From highlighting their boardroom expertise to hinting at their penchant for big-picture brainstorming sessions, each line should stand out and boast about the many benefits your new board member brings to the table.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to write a new board member press release and walk you through the following topics:

• What is a New Board Member Press Release?
• How to Write a New Board Member Press Release
• New Board Member Press Release Template
• How to Make Your Press Release Stand Out
• How to Distribute a New Board Member Press Release

What is a New Board Member Press Release?

A new board member press release is an announcement about a new addition to your company’s board A new board member press release is an announcement about a new addition to your company’s board of directors. The intention is to gain media coverage by sharing it and to inform various stakeholders. You’ll want to include the new member’s previous positions and why they are a good fit.

New board member press releases should also include:

• Background Information
• Expected Impact on the Company
• A Quote from the CEO
• Other Relevant Information

Writing a new board member press release is a great idea especially when the new member is a well-known or respected professional in their field that brings a lot of value to the company.

Characteristics of a New Board Member Press Release

A  press release for a new board member needs to be clear, concise, and professional, while also conveying the significance of the appointment. 

Here are the key characteristics:

• Compelling Headline: The headline should immediately capture attention and clearly announce the appointment. It often includes the new board member’s name and position.

• Brief Introduction: Start with a concise introduction that states the main purpose of the press release — announcing the new board member.

• Board Member’s Background: Provide a summary of the new board member’s professional background, including key achievements, previous roles, and relevant expertise. This section highlights why they are a valuable addition to the board.

• Role and Responsibilities: Clearly outline the new board member’s leadership role within the organization and any specific responsibilities they will undertake.

• Quotes: Include quotes from key figures, such as the CEO, Chairperson, or the new board member themselves. These quotes should express enthusiasm, confidence, and the significance of the appointment.

• Company Overview: Briefly describe the company or organization, emphasizing its mission, values, and how the new board member’s appointment aligns with its strategic goals.

• Call to Action: Encourage readers, particularly stakeholders and media, to follow up for more information or visit the company’s website for further details.

• Contact Information: Provide contact details for the company’s PR or media relations team, ensuring that journalists or interested parties can easily reach out for additional information.

• Professional Tone: Maintain a tone that is formal yet accessible, reflecting the seriousness of the announcement while remaining engaging to a broad audience.

• Visuals (Optional): Include a professional headshot of the new board member, if appropriate, to add a personal touch to the announcement.

Pro Tip: Focus on clarity and relevance. Highlight the new board member’s most impressive qualifications and connect them directly to your organization’s goals. 

Want to know how to write a general press release? Then check out our dedicated guide: How to Write the Perfect Press Release

How to Write a New Board Member Press Release

The best way to write a new board member press release is to follow the “inverted pyramid” structure.

This structure puts the most important information at the top and the rest in order of its relevance and starts by addressing the “5 Ws”—who, what, when, where, and why—right away.

The 5 Ws give your readers a quick overview of the announcement and inspire them to read further.

• Who: Briefly introduce the new board member.

• What: Describe the appointment of the new board member.

• When: Specify the establishment and the time frame when the new change is taking place. 

• Where: Start your press release by stating the city and the state where your company headquarters or specific branch is located.

• Why: Explain why this announcement is important and why this specific person was a good addition to your company.

After the overview, it’s a good idea to include a quote from the new member. Then you should dig deeper into their background and additional details on why this person will create a positive impact on the company. 

Pro Tip: Gradually moving toward the less important details is a good strategy for structuring your announcement.

For more info on how to structure your press release follow our guide: The Must-use Industry Press Release Format

New Board Member Press Release Template

This new board member press release template shows you exactly what to write in each section to leverage the event for positive media attention.

But what if there’s more than one appointee? This is a common question that’s rarely addressed. Each new member will require a bio, so additional paragraphs in the intro and body of the press release may be required to cover the requisite information. 

Let’s go through the steps using this NPR press release announcing two new board members. Note that each member has an intro, featured quote, and detailed bio. 

1. Title: Get straight to the point by summarizing what your press release is about.

2. Introduction: Address the “5 W”s. Explain when what company appointed who and why.

3. Second Paragraph: Include quotes from the new board members.

4. Additional Paragraphs: If needed, use additional paragraphs to provide more background information about the new board members and explain how they bring value to the company.

5. Boilerplate: A boilerplate is a short summary of your company. Ideally, it should fit in just one paragraph.

6. Contact Info: Provide names and email addresses of the people who will handle press queries. You can also add any additional information such as phone number and postal address.

Pro Tip: In a new board member press release, the boilerplate should reinforce how the appointment aligns with your company’s overall strategy, making it clear why this news matters.

Want a dedicated guide to press release boilerplates? We’ve got you covered! Check it out: Step-by-step Guide to the Press Release Boilerplate

How to Make Your New Board Member Press Release Stand Out

After you’ve structured your press release, start finetuning it to make it eye-catching. Just having a new board member is not necessarily newsworthy, so you need to make sure you explain why this is important and interesting to a wider audience. You need a hook! 

Let’s take a look at this eBay press release announcing two new additions to eBay Foundation’s board of directors.

This brief section not only highlights the new members’ attributes and company milestones, it conveys confidence that these new members are the right people to advance eBay Foundation’s mission and achievements. 

Journalists should care about these nonprofit partnerships because they extend beyond eBay, creating volunteer opportunities and assisting underserved entrepreneurs. 

Pro Tip: Like pitching a journalist, your hook needs to clarify why anyone outside of your company should care about a new board member. A strong hook leads to increased media attention.

For more info on effective pitching, read our article: A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting an Effective PR Pitch [Examples + Templates]

How to Submit a New Board Member Press Release

Now that you’ve locked in a compelling hook, all that is left to do is to share it with the media. For this, you have two options: 

1. Use a Press Release Distribution Service

2. Submit Directly to Journalists

Both options have pros and cons, but in 99% of the cases, we recommend the latter. It may be more time-consuming than using a press release service, but the chances of your press release getting featured in the media are much higher.

Pro Tip: Contacting journalists individually also helps you to start creating important relationships with the press that might also become very valuable in the future.

Search for relevant contacts here: The World’s Most Insightful Journalist Database

Wrapping Up

Now you know the secrets to a successful new board member press release. But just one more thing –  don’t forget to start the process in time!

If you’re doing everything yourself, from writing a new board room press release to pitching, get started a few weeks before you want your announcement covered in the media. This assures that a journalist has time to consider your pitch and prepare an article about it. 

By focusing on the key elements — a strong headline, a clear presentation of the board member’s qualifications, and a strategic use of quotes — you’ll create a press release that not only informs but also engages. 

And don’t forget the importance of a well-crafted boilerplate to tie everything back to your organization’s core values!

With attention to detail and a clear understanding of your audience, your press release will effectively introduce your new board member and highlight their role in your company’s future success.

Still not sure how to write a new board member press release? Let us help! Simply book a free consultation to get expert insight into how to start or improve your press release.