The short answer is no, you don't. There is no requirement under the Companies Act 2006 for a person to be a shareholder for them to be eligible to be a director (and vice versa). However, there are a couple of things you need to consider.
Directors do not have to hold shares in a limited company Nevertheless, it's common for at least one person in a company to hold both positions simultaneously. In most companies, directors hold shares, whether they are founding members or have been appointed to run the business on behalf of the other shareholders.
Shareholders and directors have two completely different roles in a company. The shareholders (also called members) own the company by owning its shares and the directors manage it. Unless the articles say so (and most do not) a director does not need to be a shareholder and a shareholder has no right to be a director.
Unless specified in the articles of association, a director is not required to be a shareholder, and a shareholder has no automatic right to be a director. Although there's no automatic right, there is nothing preventing directors from also being shareholders.
Shareholders own the company by buying and holding its shares, acting as the company's financial supporters. Directors are responsible for day-to-day management of the business and its operations. Being a shareholder does not automatically confer the right to have a say in how that company is run on a day-to-day basis.
Typically, a director is (or should be) a shareholder in the company. Directors are appointed, i.e. voted into office, by the shareholders of a company at a properly convened meeting of shareholders.
Private companies are not legally required to have a board of directors, but many choose to do so in order to create a structure of accountability and good governance. Having a board can also be helpful in attracting investors and other key stakeholders.
Is it necessary to get a shareholder as a director of a company? No, the director is not required to hold the company shares. A person with no company shares can also be appointed as a director unless the AOA specifies that the company director must have shares in the company.
Peter Langerman is the chairman, president and CEO of Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC (referred to as Mutual Series).
Transfer agents work for the security issuer to record changes of ownership, maintain the issuer's security holder records, cancel and issue certificates, and distribute dividends. Transfer agents are usually banks or trust companies, but sometimes a company acts as its own transfer agent.