How to write a Non-Executive Director CV that gets results

CV writing is a skill many of us don’t have or often need. That makes Non-Executive Director (NED) CV writing skills even more elusive. With more than 15 years of experience as a board recruiter and NED career consultant, I have mastered the art of writing NED CVs that get noticed and get candidates past the gatekeepers. In this article, I share what to include when writing your NED CV.

At a Glance: every NED CV that gets results includes:

• • Board profile – a short opening summary of your board and committee experience, with no aspirational statements;
  • Board-level achievements, early – make it clear on page one that you can do the job;
  • NED and committee experience – in reverse chronological order, with responsibilities and strategic outcomes;
  • Board-level executive experience – the bridge between your executive career and the boardroom;
  • Executive experience – edited for strategic impact and backed by numbers, not day-to-day duties;
  • Qualifications, memberships and extra-professional activities – especially governance qualifications and professional bodies;
  • Referees – ideally board members or Chairs; name, role and organisation only;
  • Tailored and concise – around two pages, mapped to the role’s person specification, with no photo or date of birth.
    
    

Why an Executive CV is not good enough for board candidates

1. An executive CV and a NED CV serve different purposes. Executive management roles and non-executive director roles are strategically different, so your board CV and profile should be too.
2. Your CV is the first document chairs, recruiters, and selection committees review when making yes/no decisions. A well-crafted NED CV should leave them with no doubt that you can do the job and that they need to interview you.
3. Chairs want candidates who are serious about governance and committed to serving on their board. Submitting an executive CV for a NED role suggests you’re not committed to the organisation’s governance or that you don’t understand the implications of good governance. This exposes you as a potential risk to the chair’s reputation or the organisation they represent.
4. Busy recruiters, inundated with qualified applicants, see a candidate who submits an executive CV for a board role as an easy NO in the first round of sifting.
5. Your NED CV should be customised to address the selection criteria for the role and board you are applying for. Treat the role description or person specification as your checklist: every criterion listed should be clearly evidenced somewhere in your CV.
6. Without a well-structured, customised NED CV, you’ll be vulnerable when trying to articulate how your skills and experience add value at board level, not executive level.
7. NED CVs work. Here is what a member said: “With pleasure, I am informing you that as a result of using the NED CV you worked on with me, I have now received an appointment as a Non-Executive Director. Why do I know the NED CV was a catalyst? Because I asked what attracted their attention to me, to which they responded – the style, format, and clearly articulated content of your CV.”
   
   

This is what every NED CV needs to contain

If you have researched the NED role and organisation and determined you are a strong candidate, the next step is to present that on paper. A NED CV is not simply a shortened version of an executive CV. It requires a distinct structure and tone that reflects the strategic and collaborative nature of the role. The following sections outline the key elements and how they should feature in every NED CV.

A focus on your board-level success

Most people get stuck when writing their NED CV by focusing on executive successes and industry expertise without translating that value into board-level requirements and practices.

Don’t get me wrong: your executive successes are fundamentally important, but if you focus on them alone, you suggest to the reader that you are a competent executive director yet untested as an effective board director. Instead, you must be able to articulate how your executive and non-executive experience adds value at the board level or to that particular board.

This matters because of how UK boards recruit. The UK Corporate Governance Code expects a board and its committees to have “a combination of skills, experience and knowledge”, and many nomination committees assess candidates against a board skills matrix to find the gaps they need to fill. Work out which gap you fill for this board, and make sure your CV says so clearly.

Always include a board profile

Your NED CV should open with your board profile. If you don’t have one, you need to write this immediately. In essence, this section briefly summarises your board or committee experience (either as an executive or non-executive) and how long you have been working with or on boards. Don’t make any aspirational statements. Make sure to add any relevant qualifications or extra-professional successes you have had – particularly ones focused on governance.

Evidence of your board-level success

The next section includes a summary and list of your board and executive successes. Some of this information will be replicated in later sections; however, it is essential to make an impact early and make it clear that you can do the job.

A list of your Non-Executive Director & Committee Experience

List all your NED and committee experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. Do not limit your examples to just formal non-executive directorships. You can legitimately include sub-committee or committee memberships and other formal responsibilities that have a strategic or governance perspective.

Under each example, also list the key responsibilities you held as part of the board or committee, key achievements and evidence of strategic success. If you have no board or committee experience, you should not include this section in your board CV until such time that you have gained it.

Board-level experience or lack of board experience

The next section provides a bridge between your board-level and executive experience. It is particularly useful for individuals without formal NED or board experience. The operative words here are ‘board-level’. For some, this means any experience working with and on boards in an executive capacity.

Regardless of your level of experience, here is the place to include the executive committee or executive board roles you have held as part of an executive role. For example:

• • as CEO – you sat on or reported to the board,
  • you were an executive director or C-suite executive who served on a management committee,
  • you served on a policy, risk management, or audit committee (or the like).
    
    

If you have no formal board experience, as a separate task from writing your NED CV, highlight gaining experience as something to work on. Depending on your current employer, or one you hope to join, securing an internal committee position may be fairly straightforward. Such roles can then serve as evidence of governance experience. In the UK, charity trustee and school governor roles are also well-recognised routes into governance, and they carry real board-level responsibility. Once again, if this section doesn’t yet apply to you, leave it out until your circumstances change.

Your Executive Experience

This section lists, again in reverse chronological order, your executive career roles.

While it is tempting to save time by cutting and pasting this entirely from your executive CV, you need to edit it. Focus on evidencing your strategic successes in that role. Statistics and other numerical evidence are more effective. When applying for a board role, the reader will be interested in your governance, strategic, and macro experience. You should not include details about what you do or did on a day-to-day basis. This is applicable for your executive CV only.

Your Qualifications, Memberships & Extra-Professional Activities

This section is where you list your degrees and any professional qualifications you have completed or are in the process of completing. Although straightforward, this section is still important, as organisations look for well-educated and well-qualified board directors. Some boards seek candidates with specific qualifications, such as a chartered accountancy qualification (for example ACA, FCA or ACCA), an LLB (Bachelor of Laws), or a governance qualification such as the Institute of Directors’ Certificate or Diploma in Company Direction or Chartered Director status.

After your qualifications, you should then list your professional memberships, special interest groups, languages spoken or relevant personal activities that might positively impact the reader. For the same reasons listed in the previous paragraph, always include memberships of governance or professional bodies – for example, the Institute of Directors, the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, or your professional institute.

Next, consider listing some extra-professional activities, personal interests and languages spoken. Focus on those that may positively impact a board appointment decision. For example, you may have written papers or published books, been invited to contribute to organisations outside your executive roles, or received an award.

To close this section, share an insight into your personal life away from work. On its own, this detail is unlikely to secure you a board position, but this section is frequently read and may help forge a connection with the reader that could ultimately work to your advantage.

Include Referees

The final section of your NED CV is where you list your referees. Consider referees who can influence those making selection decisions or interviewing you. Your referees should preferably serve on a board, ideally as a Chair. That said, any high-profile individual who can vouch for you can be a valuable referee. Your referees may change depending on the role you are applying for.

I never recommend including your referees’ contact details. Their name, role or title and organisation is sufficient at this stage. A word of warning: if you list a referee on your NED CV, assume they will be contacted at some stage regarding your candidature, so always ask their permission first. Chairs will not approve appointments for candidates they are concerned may disrupt the board or tarnish the reputation of the board or organisation.

Keep it concise and tailored: length and format

There is no single rule, but most UK board recruiters expect a NED CV of around two pages. A third page can be justified if you already hold a substantial non-executive portfolio; anything longer suggests you haven’t decided what really matters to this particular board. A few UK-specific points to get right:

• • Leave out personal details that aren’t relevant – UK employers don’t expect a photo, your date of birth or your marital status, and including them can invite unconscious bias.
  • Add your LinkedIn profile – include the URL with your contact details and make sure the two tell the same story. Chairs and recruiters will check.
  • Follow the application instructions – many roles ask for a covering letter, and UK public appointments usually ask for a CV plus a supporting statement showing how you meet each criterion in the person specification. Your NED CV should make those criteria easy to evidence.
    

Need more help writing your NED CV?

I cannot stress enough how critical your Board Profile and NED CV are, regardless of who you are submitting them to. Each should be a carefully crafted document that captures the reader’s attention and demonstrates your suitability for the boardroom. If you are struggling to write yours, or you have one but are not making the shortlist for board roles you believe you are well qualified for, I can help. My personal NED CV writing service is included in both my Executive and Access+ Membership packages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a board CV (or NED CV)?

A board CV – also called a NED CV – is a CV written specifically for non-executive director, trustee and other board roles. Rather than describing what you do day to day, it shows chairs and nomination committees how your experience adds value at board level: strategy, governance, risk oversight and the judgement to challenge constructively. It usually opens with a short board profile and puts board and committee experience ahead of your executive career.

How do I write a NED CV with no board experience?

Focus on the board-level exposure you already have – reporting or presenting to a board, sitting on executive, risk or audit committees, or leading strategic projects with governance oversight. Use the “board-level experience” section as your bridge, leave out the NED & Committee Experience section until you have something to put in it, and start building formal experience through charity trustee, school governor or internal committee roles.

Should I put references on my NED CV?

Yes. For a NED CV, I recommend listing referees – ideally people who serve on boards, preferably as a Chair. Include their name, role and organisation only, not their contact details, which you can provide when asked. Always get their permission first, and assume anyone you list may be contacted.

Do I need a cover letter for a non-executive director role?

Usually, yes, unless the advert says otherwise. A short covering letter – or the supporting statement that most UK public appointments require. It is where you connect your NED CV to that specific board: why this organisation, what you would contribute, and how you meet the person specification. Keep it tailored and concise – a generic letter will undermine all the work you did to create a strong NED CV.

Should I use a NED CV template?

A template is a useful starting point for structure, but it won’t get you shortlisted on its own. Chairs and recruiters read many NED CVs and quickly spot generic wording, expressions, and keyword-stuffed text.

Related Articles

Online research can result in a NED appointment

How to write a powerful Board Profile

Where to begin with no board experience

The role of the chair in your NED appointment