board
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board
The governing body of a company, association, or organization, consisting of several people and managing its affairs.
Der Vorstand hat über die neue Strategie des Unternehmens entschieden.
The board decided on the company's new strategy.
board member
An individual person who is a member of the board.
Sie wurde als neuer Vorstand für Finanzen berufen.
She was appointed as the new board member for finance.
'Vorstand' is made up of 'vor' (in front) and 'Stand' (from 'stehen', to stand). So it literally describes the person or group that 'stands at the front' and leads an organization.
Der Vorstand präsentiert die Jahresergebnisse.
The board presents the annual results.
Whether the whole group or an individual person is meant can often be recognized from the verb. Verbs like 'tagen' (to meet) or 'beschließen' (to decide) refer to the group, while 'sprechen' (to speak) or 'zurücktreten' (to resign) can refer to a person.
Der Vorstand tagt jeden Montag.
The board meets every Monday.
When the entire governing body is meant, typical phrases are 'im Vorstand sein/sitzen' (to be/sit on the board), 'in den Vorstand gewählt werden' (to be elected to the board), and 'der Vorstand entscheidet' (the board decides).
Er wurde letztes Jahr in den Vorstand gewählt.
He was elected to the board last year.
When an individual person is meant, their area of responsibility is often mentioned. Typical formulations are 'Vorstand für Finanzen' (board member for finance) or 'technischer Vorstand' (technical board member).
Sie ist der neue Vorstand für Personalentwicklung.
She is the new board member for personnel development.
managing director
Both words can refer to a person at the head of a company. A Geschäftsführer (managing director) runs the day-to-day business and is the usual term, especially for a GmbH. A Vorstandsmitglied (board member), on the other hand, belongs to the Vorstand (board), the governing body of, for example, an AG; the legal form is therefore important.
Bei der AG entscheidet das Vorstandsmitglied über die neue Geschäftsstrategie.
At the public limited company, the board member decides on the new business strategy.
Bei der GmbH entscheidet der Geschäftsführer über die täglichen Geschäfte.
At the GmbH, the managing director decides on the day-to-day business.
