diff --git a/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/ChangelogGenerator.java b/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/ChangelogGenerator.java
index 3eff1ea..130b66a 100644
--- a/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/ChangelogGenerator.java
+++ b/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/ChangelogGenerator.java
@@ -16,10 +16,13 @@
 
 package org.springframework.data.release.issues.github;
 
+import lombok.Getter;
+
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -40,17 +43,20 @@ public class ChangelogGenerator {
 
 	private static final Pattern ghUserMentionPattern = Pattern.compile("(^|[^\\w`])(@[\\w-]+)");
 
+	@Getter
 	private final Set<String> excludeLabels;
 
+	@Getter
 	private final Set<String> excludeContributors;
 
+	@Getter
 	private final String contributorsTitle;
 
 	private final ChangelogSections sections;
 
 	public ChangelogGenerator() {
 		this.excludeLabels = new HashSet<>(Arrays.asList("type: task"));
-		this.excludeContributors = Collections.emptySet();
+		this.excludeContributors = new LinkedHashSet<>();
 		this.contributorsTitle = null;
 		this.sections = new ChangelogSections();
 	}
diff --git a/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHub.java b/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHub.java
index 92f43b3..b96eb5e 100644
--- a/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHub.java
+++ b/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHub.java
@@ -553,6 +553,8 @@ public class GitHub extends GitHubSupport implements IssueTracker {
 		DocumentationMetadata documentation = DocumentationMetadata.of(module.getProject(), version);
 
 		ChangelogGenerator generator = new ChangelogGenerator();
+		generator.getExcludeContributors().addAll(properties.getTeam());
+
 		String releaseBody = generator.generate(gitHubIssues, (changelogSection, s) -> s);
 		String documentationLinks = getDocumentationLinks(module, documentation);
 
diff --git a/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHubProperties.java b/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHubProperties.java
index bc19186..cdaf7b3 100644
--- a/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHubProperties.java
+++ b/release-tools/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/release/issues/github/GitHubProperties.java
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import lombok.Data;
 import lombok.Getter;
 import lombok.RequiredArgsConstructor;
 
+import java.util.List;
+
 import javax.annotation.PostConstruct;
 
 import org.springframework.boot.context.properties.ConfigurationProperties;
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 
 /**
  * @author Oliver Gierke
+ * @author Mark Paluch
  */
 @Data
 @Component
@@ -41,6 +44,11 @@ public class GitHubProperties {
 
 	private String apiUrl;
 
+	/**
+	 * Usernames of project team members.
+	 */
+	private List<String> team;
+
 	public String getUsername() {
 		return gitProperties.getUsername();
 	}
diff --git a/release-tools/src/main/resources/application.properties b/release-tools/src/main/resources/application.properties
index f4b5380..4f0d97b 100644
--- a/release-tools/src/main/resources/application.properties
+++ b/release-tools/src/main/resources/application.properties
@@ -11,15 +11,13 @@ deployment.staging-repository=libs-staging-local
 deployment.distribution-repository=temp-private-local
 deployment.username=buildmaster
 #deployment.password <- local
-
+github.team=christophstrobl,gregturn,jxblum,mp911de,odrotbohm,schauder,meistermeier,michael-simons,sothawo,daschl,mikereiche,davidkelly
 # GPG setup
 gpg.executable=/usr/local/bin/gpg2
 # gpg.keyname
 # gpg.password
-
 # JIRA
 jira.api-url=https://jira.spring.io
-
 # GitHub
 github.api-url=https://api.github.com
 logging.pattern.console=%clr(%d{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.SSS}){faint} %clr(%5p) %clr(%-20.20logger{19}){cyan}%clr(:){faint} %m%n%wEx