Non Executive Director CV example

A Non-Executive Director doesn’t just bring experience – they bring scrutiny and credibility. But in a competitive field where many candidates have decades of leadership experience, your CV has to do more than name titles.

This guide will walk you through how to write a CV tailored to your governance experience and positions you as a trusted and effective voice at the table.

Board members are expected to bring clarity and structure – your CV should follow the same principles. Don’t bury your value in lengthy paragraphs or vague summaries. Instead, ensure that every section of your CV is sharply presented and ordered for a selection panel to digest nice and easily.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Place your name and personal details prominently at the top of your CV for quick access. Adding a photo is up to you.
• Profile – Open with a compelling overview of your skills, experience, and career goals.
• Core skills – List your key abilities in this section, focusing on those that will be most relevant to the job.
• Work experience – Provide a detailed breakdown of your work history, starting with the most recent job first.
• Education – List your qualifications, including degrees and relevant certifications, in reverse chronological order.
• Additional info – Use this optional space for relevant hobbies or personal pursuits that enhance your application.

Your CV format is as important as the impressive content it contains. Make sure to use bullet points to break up blocks of text, and apply a clean, professional font throughout. Use section headings to make navigation seamless. Stick to a two-page length limit, prioritising clarity over excess detail. And remember – your CV should project the same composure and authority that you’d bring into a governance meeting.

Your CV profile should immediately position you as a capable and dependable board member. If you can’t summarise your value to a board in four sentences, you’ll lose them at the first agenda item: this section should make clear why your perspective adds value to decision-making and oversight.

It’s not about listing credentials – it’s about offering a strategic snapshot of how you think and how you lead, explaining why recruiters should choose you over someone else.

Make sure to include the following:

• Where you worked – Briefly describe the companies you’ve held leadership or advisory roles in, especially those with regulated or complex structures.
• Your top qualifications – Mention any relevant degrees, fellowships, or NED-specific training, such as IoD or FT NED Programme participation.
• Essential skills – Focus on your board-level strengths such as corporate governance, risk oversight, strategic input, and stakeholder communication.
• Sectors or boards supported – Indicate whether you’ve worked in private, public, or charitable sectors, and the types of boards you’ve advised or served on.
• Value delivered – Explain your impact, such as improving governance processes, offering impartial risk assessments, or guiding organisational transformation.
  

As a Non-Executive Director, your core CV skills need to reflect governance, not just operations. These should represent the strengths you bring into board discussions – including financial oversight, ethical scrutiny, stakeholder relations, and an ability to see the bigger picture beyond the day-to-day.

Tailor this section to the board or organisation in question. If it’s a regulated industry, compliance insight might matter more. If it’s a fast-scaling business, experience with growth challenges or exit strategy could be key. Highlight what matters most – not everything you’ve ever done.

You’ve sat through enough strategy reviews to know the difference between busy and impactful – reflect that in your work experience. That means clearly outlining how you’ve shaped decisions, supported accountability, or offered governance guidance – either in executive or non-executive roles.

For each role, write a short paragraph explaining the organisation, your title, and your remit – then use bullet points to highlight governance contributions and key achievements. List your experience in reverse order, starting with your most recent position.

• Outline – State the company’s size, structure or sector, and your role on the board or leadership team.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “advised” and “challenged.” For example: “advised on succession planning strategy” or “challenged quarterly reports to improve audit clarity.”
• Achievements – A helpful tip is to quantify impact where possible: improved financial oversight, supported mergers, enhanced diversity at board level, or mitigated risk through effective scrutiny.

As a board member, you won’t be judged solely by your qualifications – but they do lend weight to your authority. Use this section to outline your academic background, plus any governance-specific training and education.

List your degrees and certifications in reverse chronological order. Include executive programmes, NED courses, or professional memberships that reinforce your suitability for the role.