Yes, but it was still a board of directing men that functioned to direct Jehovah's organization. The title may have changed. But most of the men that were on the board of directors also became members of the Governing Body.
Let me use this analogy. In 1941 Carl N Karcher opened his first restaurant "Carl's Drive in Barbeque". In 1954l the name was changed to Carl's Jr. Now if there was an employee that began his work at Carls Drive in, could he, 30 years later say "I have worked for Carl's Jr for over 30 years? Technically he did NOT work for Carl's JR for 30 years. Technically he only worked for Carl's Jr since 1954.