Chief Executive Officer

MoneyBestPal Team
The highest-ranking executive in a company.
Image: Moneybestpal.com

The highest-ranking executive in a company is known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and their main duties include making important corporate decisions, overseeing all business operations and resources, serving as the primary liaison between the board of directors and corporate operations, and serving as the company's public face. 


A CEO is responsible for the success or failure of the business and all of its stakeholders, including shareholders, staff members, clients, government officials, and the general public.

Depending on the company's size, structure, culture, and sector, a CEO may have different responsibilities and levels of authority. The CEO of some companies might also hold the position of president, managing director, or executive director. The chief executive officer (CEO) of some businesses may have power-sharing arrangements with other C-level executives, including the chief operating officer (COO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief marketing officer (CMO), and chief technology officer (CTO). To maintain a balance of authority and responsibility, the CEO of some corporations may simultaneously act as the board of directors chairperson. In other corporations, however, the CEO and the chairperson may have different responsibilities.

A CEO’s duties and responsibilities may include:
  • Establishing and carrying out the company's vision, purpose, values, and strategy
  • Establishing and keeping track of the organization's short- and long-term goals and objectives
  • Monitoring the business's financial performance, planning, and reporting
  • Leading and inspiring the company's top management team and staff
  • Establishing and upholding moral norms and a strong company culture
  • Establishing and sustaining connections with important stakeholders like investors, clients, suppliers, regulators, and the press
  • Assessing and managing the company's risks and opportunities
  • Locating and exploring new markets for the company's goods, services, and relationships.
  • Keeping abreast with market developments, rivals, and client requirements
  • Representing and advancing the name and standing of the business


A CEO’s qualifications and skills may include:
  • A bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant subject, including business, finance, management, or engineering
  • A track record of successful strategic thinking, management, and leadership
  • Knowing the business's market, clients, and industry inside and out
  • Excellent analytical and financial skills
  • A great degree of originality and inventiveness
  • Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities
  • A high level of ethics, integrity, and professionalism
  • A dedication to the organization's vision, mission, and values

The size, performance, and industry of the company, as well as the CEO's expertise and reputation, can all affect the CEO's pay and benefits. The median annual salary for chief executives in 2020 was $193,850, with the top 10 percent earning more than $208,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But some CEOs could also receive extra pay in the form of stock options, bonuses, incentives, and perks.

The success and expansion of the business, as well as the CEO's performance and reputation, may all affect the CEO's career path and opportunities. Others may be recruited from outside the organization or from different industries, while some CEOs may begin their careers in lower-level executive positions and work their way up to the top. While some CEOs may work for the same company for a very long time, others may change jobs or industries. Some CEOs may choose to retire when they reach a certain age or milestone, while others might choose to carry on working as advisors, mentors, board members, or benefactors.
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