The executives directly below the CEO are typically other C-suite officers: the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). These are the people who report to the CEO and run the major functions of the company. Beyond the C-suite, a CEO may also have a Chief of Staff, division heads, or general managers reporting to them, depending on how the company is organized.
The C-Suite: Core Executives Under the CEO
In most companies, the CEO sits at the top of the management team, and the other C-level executives report directly to them. Each one leads a critical part of the business:
- Chief Operating Officer (COO): Oversees day-to-day operations. In companies that have a COO, this person is often considered the second-in-command. Not every company fills this role.
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Manages the company’s finances, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and investor relations.
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Leads technology strategy and product development. In tech companies, this role carries enormous influence.
- Chief Marketing Officer (CMO): Directs marketing, branding, and customer acquisition strategy.
- Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO): Handles talent management, hiring, benefits, and company culture.
Other C-suite titles have become common in recent years, including Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), and Chief Data Officer (CDO). Whether these roles report directly to the CEO or to another executive like the COO varies from company to company.
How Company Size Changes the Structure
There is no single org chart that every company follows. A startup with 20 employees might have only a CEO and a handful of team leads, with no formal C-suite at all. A mid-size company might have a CEO with five or six direct reports. A Fortune 500 corporation might have a dozen executives reporting to the CEO, including regional general managers or division presidents alongside the traditional C-suite roles.
In companies organized by function (marketing, engineering, finance), vice presidents of each department typically report to the CEO or to a COO. In companies organized by division or geography, general managers who run entire business units or regions may report directly to the CEO instead. A general manager in this context operates almost like a mini-CEO for their division, owning both the revenue and the operations of that segment.
Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant
Two roles that sit close to the CEO but serve very different purposes are the Chief of Staff and the Executive Assistant. Both report directly to the CEO in most cases, but their jobs barely overlap.
An Executive Assistant manages the CEO’s inbox, calendar, travel, and expenses. Their focus is keeping the CEO’s daily logistics running smoothly. A Chief of Staff, on the other hand, acts as a proxy and advisor to the CEO. They drive alignment across the executive team, lead cross-functional projects, and can represent the CEO in meetings. Think of the Chief of Staff as a strategic operator and the Executive Assistant as a logistical one.
Both roles should report directly to the leader they support. Routing an EA through the Chief of Staff removes the direct access that makes the role effective in the first place.
Where the CEO Fits in the Bigger Picture
While the CEO runs the management team, they are not the ultimate authority in a public company. The CEO reports to the board of directors, which is elected by the company’s shareholders. The board sets the overall strategy, approves major decisions, and has the power to hire or fire the CEO. The board chair is technically the leader of the corporation, responsible for maintaining communication with the CEO and representing the company to shareholders and the public.
In some companies, the CEO also holds the title of board chair. When these roles are split between two people, the chair provides independent oversight of the CEO’s performance. The management team, led by the CEO, is responsible for executing the strategy the board sets and meeting the goals the board approves.
Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents
Below the C-suite, you will often see layers of Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs) and Vice Presidents (VPs). In smaller companies, a VP might report directly to the CEO. In larger organizations, VPs typically report to a C-suite executive rather than to the CEO. A VP of Engineering, for example, might report to the CTO, while a VP of Sales reports to the CRO or COO.
SVPs generally outrank VPs, and both outrank directors. The practical difference is that SVPs are more likely to have a seat at senior leadership meetings and to interact with the CEO regularly, while VPs manage their function one level removed. Titles vary widely across industries, though. A VP at a bank may carry different weight than a VP at a tech company, so the title alone does not always tell you how close someone is to the CEO.