Position Title | Role in the Company |
|---|---|
Highest ranking position that all other C-level executives report to. Responsibilities include overseeing the business as a whole, handling top-level policies and plans, establishing the business's goals and strategies, and making the final decision on any plans, strategies, or projects. | |
Typically holds a position just below the CEO. Responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring the proper execution of the business's plans and strategies. | |
Oversees the finance and accounting departments. Responsibilities include budgeting, forecasting, reporting, compliance activities, long-term financial planning, risk analyses, and managing the business's overall financial status. | |
Oversees the information technology department as well as all of the business's computers. Responsibilities include strategic planning, increasing the business's value, selecting hardware and software, and improving customer service through technology. | |
Often overlapping with the CIO's duties, the CTO oversees information systems and technology development. If a company has both a CIO and a CTO, then the CTO focuses on innovation rather than the management of the IT infrastructure, which falls to the CIO. Responsibilities include overseeing new technological, product, and feature developments. | |
Oversees the marketing department. Responsibilities include managing the brand, overseeing product positioning, preparing marketing strategies, overseeing client communications and email campaigns, conducting industry research, and overseeing the return on investment (ROIs) from marketing activities. | |
Oversees the HR department and the people within the business. Responsibilities include establishing a successful hiring process, training and evaluating employees, overseeing employee development, promotion, retention, and managing long-term HR strategies. | |
Chief Content Officer (CCO) | Typically works in the marketing or public relations departments and may collaborate with the CMO. Responsibilities include establishing the brand tone, voice, and position, managing content creation, and overseeing social media communications. |
Chief Compliance Officer (also CCO) | Oversees the compliance department. Responsibilities include ensuring the business is compliant with all applicable rules, regulations, policies, and laws, and implementing policies and standards to ensure compliance. |
Chief Security Officer (CSO) | Oversees the security department. Responsibilities include developing security protocols and managing security programs and policies to ensure both cyber and physical security. Sometimes, a business may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) who will then be in charge of cybersecurity while the CSO oversees physical security. |
Typically works in the information technology department. Responsibilities include collecting, analyzing, and using data internally to benefit the business. | |
Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) | Usually oversees the research and development department. Responsibilities include generating new ideas, identifying opportunities for innovation, and propelling the company towards the future. |
Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) | An often overlooked position. Responsibilities include cultivating knowledge that applies to customer and market messaging, overseeing intellectual property policies, and focusing on the business's knowledge needs and how employees can use the knowledge to drive innovation, marketing, sales, and other aspects of the business. |
Chief Green Officer (CGO) | A less common position that is growing in popularity. Responsibilities include reducing the business's carbon footprint, building energy-efficient data centers, mitigating e-waste, developing environmentally friendly policies, and meeting OSHA standards. |
