CEO

UK: ˌsiː.iːˈəʊ | US: ˌsiː.iːˈoʊ

Definition

  1. n. Chief Executive Officer; the highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for major corporate decisions and operations.

Structure
C <chief>E <executive>O <officer>
Etymology

The term "CEO" is an initialism derived from the phrase "Chief Executive Officer." Each component reflects a core aspect of corporate hierarchy:

  • "Chief" (from Old French chef, "leader") emphasizes authority.
  • "Executive" (from Latin exsequi, "to carry out") denotes operational responsibility.
  • "Officer" (from Latin officium, "duty") signifies formal role.
    The abbreviation emerged in the mid-20th century as corporate structures formalized, condensing the title for efficiency.
Examples

  1. The CEO announced a new sustainability initiative.

  2. She became CEO after a decade of leadership in the company.

  3. The board of directors supports the CEO’s strategic vision.

  4. CEOs often face intense pressure to deliver quarterly results.

  5. His first act as CEO was to restructure the management team.