Which roles a board org chart shows, and why
A board chart is read by investors, auditors, new directors and senior staff. It should show who governs and who manages, and the few places where the two connect directly.
- Chair, vice chair and directors
- The chair leads the board and is the CEO's main contact. Directors are placed side by side; listing their committee roles in the title (audit, compensation, nominating) is clearer than drawing each committee.
- Corporate secretary
- Shown as a staff position beside the chair: prepares meetings, keeps minutes and advises on governance, without managing anyone on the board.
- CEO
- Appointed by the board and its only direct report among the staff. In many companies the CEO is also a director; note that in the title rather than drawing the box twice.
- Executive team
- CFO, COO, chief people officer and general counsel report to the CEO. Add the corporate controller under the CFO if the board meets them in audit discussions.
- Internal audit
- Reports to the CEO for administration and to the audit committee chair for its audit work. The dotted line makes that independence visible.
Variations: nonprofit board or holding structure
Nonprofit or association board
Replace the executives with an executive director and staff leads, and list officers such as treasurer and secretary. For a small association, the nonprofit template is a better starting point.
Group with subsidiaries
Put the parent board at the top and add each subsidiary's managing director under the group CEO in its own colour. Subsidiary boards can be separate top-level boxes with dotted lines.
Tips for a board org chart
Keep committees in the titles
Write "Audit Committee Chair" or "Member, Compensation Committee" into each director's title. The chart stays compact and search finds every committee member.
Show board vacancies
Mark an open board seat as an open position before your annual meeting, so the nominating discussion starts from the same picture.
Add photos for the annual report
Add a photo for each director and executive and export an SVG or PDF for the annual report or investor deck.
Questions about this template
Should the board appear above the CEO on an org chart?
Yes, if the chart is about governance. For an internal staff chart, many companies start at the CEO and show the board as a single box above in a neutral colour.
How do I show an executive chair or a combined chair and CEO?
Use one box with both titles, such as "Chair and CEO", and place the lead independent director beside it with a note in the title.
Should advisory boards be on the chart?
An advisory board has no governing authority. Add it as a separate top-level box with its own colour, or leave it off the governance chart.
Ready to put in your own names?
The template opens in the editor with the example people. Replace them by hand, or import your staff list and keep the structure.