student asking question

Does the word "chairman" has the same meaning as ceo?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

A "CEO" or chief executive officer is usually the top role within a company and all other executives answer to him or her. The "CEO" typically shares out many of the day-to-day responsibilities to other managers, focusing instead on strategic and more long-term goals and issues. The "CEO" will usually report to the board of directors for the company’s performance. The "chairman" of a company is the head of its board of directors. The board is voted for by shareholders and is responsible for protecting the investors’ interests. The board of directors in most companies would usually meet several times a year to set long-term goals, review financial results, evaluate the performance of high-level managers, and vote on important business decisions suggested by the CEO. Directors appoint–and can fire–upper-level managers such as the CEO and president. The "chairman" typically has substantial power in setting the board’s agenda and determining the outcome of votes. But he or she does not necessarily have an active role in everyday management. It is sometimes possible for "the chairman" of a company to also be its "CEO". Ex: Even though I am the CEO I have to get approval from the Chairman. Ex: The Chairman has dismissed a lot of the CEO's ideas.

Popular Q&As

04/19

Complete the expression with a quiz!