12:57 Oct 28, 2011 

Is the "company" a charitable organization or professional organization? And in which country is this?

11:35 Oct 28, 2011 

Have you ever heard of a company having several, one for each country it operated in?

08:49 Oct 28, 2011 

board of directors is exactly the term I was looking for, thanks!
This relates to a private co. so is the correct option.

05:34 Oct 28, 2011 

I agree that more context is required.

Concerning your comment, mediamatrix, I find the word "Director" rather nebulous. On the whole Directors don't manage but what does a Managing Director do?

00:17 Oct 28, 2011 

noun
a group of persons chosen to govern the affairs of a corporation or other large institution [syn:directorate]
source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/board of directors

So the board of directors is a group of people within a company or corporation, more or less its top management committee.
[Note: Even though this dico gives "directorate" as a synonym for "board of directors," it's not often employed that way, at least not in US English.]

On the other hand, National Directorate sounds like the name – or rather, like part of the name – of an organization, government office, political committee or NGO-type entity.

Which is appropriate in your context? I can't tell from the info you've posted so far.

23:47 Oct 27, 2011 

obviously I didn't make it clear, sorry (my brain is about to dissolve).

The first phrase refers to the private company who are looking to build on the success of their environmental progress (improved recycling, reduced use of packaging etc.). The article states 'le personnel et la Direction Nationale, en ce qui concerne le management de l'environnement...'.
So, is 'board of directors/ National Directorate' appropriate? The latter sounds more suitable for a government organisation.
I wished to avoid repetition of 'management' in that 'direction' made me think of management. However, as I said it is about time to call it a day.

23:38 Oct 27, 2011 

Please post the full sentence without the '...'. It's not at all clear from the question, as posed, whether 'Direction Nationale ...' refers to a government body or to part of the private company.
Also, please state the country in which this 'DN' operates.
In any event, the word 'management' does not imply any repetition via à vis 'direction'. Directors don't 'manage'.