chief executive

USAGE SUMMARY

"chief executive" is a perfectly valid phrase to use in written English.
For example: "My father is the chief executive of a major international corporation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Chief executive, Viridor Waste.

Independent

The chief executive resigned.

The New York Times

Chief executive, Myeloma UK.

Independent

Chief executive, Live Theatre.

Independent

Chief executive, Food Northwest.

Independent

GSK's chief executive.

Independent

Chief executive, Richmond YMCA.

Independent

The chief executive complied.

The New York Times

Joint chief executive, WomenCentre.

Independent

Naidu again became chief executive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Trinity Mirror's chief executive smiled.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific person, always capitalize "Chief Executive" (e.g., "The Chief Executive announced..."). When using it as a general term, lowercase is appropriate (e.g., "He is a chief executive").

Common error

Avoid using "chief executive" when "president" is the correct term, especially when referring to the head of state. While a president can be a chief executive, the terms are not always interchangeable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chief executive" primarily functions as a noun, often used as a title or descriptor for the highest-ranking executive in an organization. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "chief executive" is a commonly used term to denote the highest-ranking executive in an organization. Grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it primarily functions as a noun phrase. Its frequency is high across various domains, most notably in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When referring to a specific person, "Chief Executive" is capitalized. Alternative phrases include "ceo", "managing director", and "executive director". Remember that the term should not be confused with "president", which often refers to the head of state. The authoritative sources like Forbes, The New York Times, and BBC regularly use this term, underscoring its widespread recognition and acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ceo

This is the acronym commonly used for Chief Executive Officer, offering a shorter alternative.

managing director

This term describes a similar leadership role, often used in the context of business management and strategy.

executive director

Similar to managing director, this term also implies an executive position, differing slightly in scope.

head of the company

This is a more general term, emphasizing the position of leadership within the organization.

top executive

This emphasizes the executive nature of the role, placing it among the highest positions in the company.

principal officer

A formal term indicating the primary officer responsible for the company's operations.

leader of the organization

A general term stressing the leadership aspect of the chief executive's role.

corporate head

This term emphasizes the corporate aspect of the role, highlighting the position's involvement in corporate governance.

chief operating officer

While distinct, this role is closely related, often being second-in-command to the CEO, focusing on daily operations.

general manager

A more general term for managing a business, can sometimes be interchangeable depending on the organizational structure.

FAQs

How to use "chief executive" in a sentence?

You can use "chief executive" to refer to the person who is in charge of a company or organization. For example, "The "chief executive" announced a new strategic plan."

What can I say instead of "chief executive"?

You can use alternatives like "ceo", "managing director", or "executive director" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "chief executive" or "chief executive officer"?

"Chief executive" is correct and commonly used as a shortened version of "chief executive officer". Both are acceptable, but ""chief executive"" is often preferred for brevity.

What's the difference between "chief executive" and "president"?

While both roles involve leadership, "chief executive" typically refers to the head of a company, whereas "president" can refer to the head of a country or an organization. The terms are not always interchangeable; use "president" when referring to the head of state.