Titles Indicate the Company’s Hierarchal Roles
– By Phyllis Davis
A company is hierarchical, and titles represent the roles and responsibilities of each person holding a title. Employees with lower titles treat those with higher-ranking titles with greater respect and etiquette to create a positive and productive work environment.
If you break down a company’s leadership, here is what the titles look like from the top down:
C-suite executives (C meaning Chief). The C-suite titles indicate those who hold the most power within the company.
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO): The CEO oversees the company and takes responsibility for the company’s success or failure. They create the momentum of all operations and make major decisions impacting the organization.
- Chief Operating Officer (COO): The COO is hands-on throughout the company’s operations. They make sure the company’s direction is in line with the CEO’s vision.
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO): The CFO is responsible for the finances of the company. They create the budgets, financial forecasting, bill paying, and collections.
- Chief Information Officer (CIO): The CIO oversees the company’s technology (IT). They ensure the operations and technology infrastructure to run the company internally and externally.
- Chief Marketing Officer (CMO): The CMO has a vital role in the company. They develop plans and implement strategies to keep the company’s services and products in the face of the public.
- Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO): The CHRO, or HR, is responsible for employee performance, human resources, hiring, employee relations, compensation, and benefits.
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO): The CTO works closely with the CIO and oversees the company’s development and application of new technologies and innovations.
- Senior Management:
- President: The President reports to the CEO and is responsible for specific divisions, teams, and operations within the company.
- Executive Vice President (EVP): The EVP reports directly to the CEO and oversees multiple departments or functions.
- Senior Vice President (SVP): The SVP Reports to an EVP and is responsible for a specific department or business unit.
- Vice President (VP): Oversees a specific department or function within the company.
- Director: Leads a team of professionals within a specific department or function.
- Manager: Supervises a team of employees and manages their daily work activities.
- Additionally, some companies may have titles specific to their industry or function, such as:
- Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in a healthcare company.
- Chief Legal Officer (CLO) in a law firm.
- Chief Design Officer (CDO) in a design-focused company.
- Company titles depend on a company’s size and industry. They may be structured to meet the needs of the company’s internal workings regarding leadership. For example, here are some titles that explain an employee’s role within the company and their direct reports:
- Level titles: Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, and Vice President.
- Function titles: Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Information Officer.
By understanding the different leadership titles and their associated roles, you can better understand a company’s structure and hierarchy.
