Leadership & company news

CEO quarterly update

A quarterly letter from the chief executive to everyone at the company: the figures they choose to share, progress on priorities, what was hard and the focus for next quarter.

Subject: Our [reporting period] update from [leader name]

Employee survey results and actions

Shares what people said in an employee survey and what leadership will do about it: the results you choose to share, the main themes, actions with owners and dates, and what won’t change and why.

Subject: Your [survey name] results, and our response

Leadership message of support

A leader’s message to everyone after a distressing event outside the company: an acknowledgement in their own words, the support and flexibility on offer and who to talk to in confidence.

Subject: A note from [leader name], and the support available

Policy decision from leadership

Explains a significant company-wide policy decision in leadership’s own words: what was decided and why, what else was considered, when it takes effect, the support on offer and how to raise a concern.

Subject: Our decision on [decision topic], and why

Leadership team update for managers

Passes on to people managers what the leadership team decided at its meeting: the decisions and why, what to share with teams and what to hold back, the actions with dates and who to ask.

Subject: Leadership decisions from [meeting date]

Manager briefing before an announcement

Briefs people managers in confidence before a company-wide announcement: what will be shared and when, what it means for their teams, the key messages, what not to share yet and what to do next.

Subject: In confidence: briefing on [announcement title]

Sustainability initiative announcement

Tells colleagues about a new sustainability initiative: what it is and why, what changes day to day, how to take part and how progress will be reported, with no figures the sender cannot evidence.

Subject: [initiative name]: what we’re doing and how to help

Institution-wide announcement

Shares news with everyone at a university, college or training provider, students and staff alike: what is happening, who it affects, what anyone needs to do and where to read more.

Subject: Campus update: [announcement title]

Merger or acquisition announcement to employees

Tells employees about a merger or acquisition once it can be shared: what was agreed, what happens until completion, what stays the same for now, and how to handle questions from outside.

Subject: [company name] and [counterparty name]: what today means

Organisational change announcement

Announces a change to how the company is organised, such as new teams, merged functions or new reporting lines: why, what changes from when, and when people will hear more. Not for role reductions.

Subject: Changes to how we’re organised from [effective date]

Executive appointment announcement

Announces a new executive to everyone, whether hired or promoted: their role, start date, what they’ll lead and who they report to, a short approved biography and how the handover will run.

Subject: Welcoming [executive name] as our [executive title]

Executive departure announcement

Tells everyone that a senior leader is leaving: their last day, thanks in agreed words, who covers their responsibilities, how a successor will be found and who to ask in the meantime.

Subject: Leadership news: [executive name] is leaving

Incoming leader introduction

A new leader’s first message to the people they now lead, in their own words: who they are, how they’ll spend their first weeks, the listening sessions and how to book time with them.

Subject: Hello from [sender name]: how I’ll spend my first weeks

Interim leadership arrangements

Sets out who covers a leader’s responsibilities while they are away or the role is vacant: who decides what, from when until when, and how to escalate. Gives no personal reason for an absence.

Subject: Interim cover for [absent leader name]’s responsibilities

Business milestone celebration

Celebrates a company milestone with everyone, such as an anniversary or a landmark launch: what was reached, the people who made it happen and how you’ll mark it together.

Subject: We’ve reached [milestone name]

Company-wide recognition

Recognises a person or team in front of the whole company: what they did, the difference it made in words you can stand behind, and how colleagues can add their thanks.

Subject: A big thank you to [recognised names]

Year-end message from leadership

A leader’s end-of-year letter to everyone: thanks in the sender’s own words, moments worth remembering, the holiday arrangements and a look ahead.

Subject: Thank you for [year label]

All-hands recap and answers

Follows an all-hands or town hall: the main announcements, the decisions and actions, the recording and slides, and written answers to questions there wasn’t time for.

Subject: [event name]: what we covered, and your answers

Call for town hall questions

Asks everyone for questions ahead of a town hall or leadership Q&A: how to submit, whether they can stay anonymous, how questions are chosen and when submissions close.

Subject: Ask leadership anything: [event name]

Annual kick-off and priorities

Opens the year for everyone: a short look back, this year’s theme and company priorities, when team goals are due, and the details of the kick-off event.

Subject: Our priorities for [fiscal year]

Change to company priorities

Tells everyone that leadership has changed the company’s priorities part-way through a period: what starts, what stops or pauses and why, what it means for teams and when managers will follow up.

Subject: A change to our priorities for [priority period]

Company strategy launch

Introduces a new company strategy to everyone: why it’s changing, the ambition and its pillars in plain words, what changes for teams and from when, and the sessions to learn more.

Subject: Our strategy for [strategy period]: [strategy name]

Company values and culture memo

Introduces new or refreshed company values: why now, what each value means in everyday behaviour, where they’ll be used, such as hiring and reviews, and how people helped shape them.

Subject: The values that guide [company name]

Management review invitation

Invites leaders and process owners to a management system review: when and where, the agenda, the inputs each owner must send and by when, and when the review pack will be shared.

Subject: Management review on [meeting date]