Chief Executive Officers are hailed as “Corporate Saviours” and also reviled as “Corporate Rascals and Scoundrels.” It all depends upon which side of the fence the CEO is perched—success or failure. The corporate world, like most other aspects of life, is ruthless. It acclaims with lightning speed and crushes with tsunamic effect.

The role of a CEO is to be a leader. The leader ensures that all constituents within the organisation work homogeneously towards shared, common, identifiable goals and objectives. It is the job of the CEO, under the guidance of the Board of Directors, to enshrine both the “Vision” and “Values” of the organisation.

Investopedia interestingly defines the CEO in a very narrow sense: “The Chief Executive Officer is the highest-ranking executive in a company whose primary responsibilities usually include major corporate decisions and managing the overall operations and resources of a company.” This definition is too general and far too liberal. CEOs do more than just that. They build organisations through strategic planning, thinking, and execution, while simultaneously adopting the best practices of a work culture.

YouTube urged to promote ‘high-quality’ children’s TV

The CEO is the nominated spokesperson for the entity, an ambassador at large, who is expected to interact with the outside world to present the credentials of the company—its products and services—while retaining, protecting, and championing the “reputation” of the organisation. The CEO is answerable to the Board and shareholders for the Return on Equity (ROE), for increasing the bottom line, and for hiring the best human resources complement. To regulators, the CEO is responsible for every single thing; in the case of the CEO, the buck literally stops at their desk. The job description (JD) of a CEO is, in short, an endless list.

The role of a CEO is, in many aspects, quite unique compared to others in the organisation. Firstly, there is an expectation that the CEO has answers to all questions and is a problem fixer. Secondly, the CEO is someone who must be looked up to as a coach, mentor, and guide. These expectations arise from the position held, not necessarily because the CEO is highly knowledgeable.

Belgium becomes first EU country to........

© The Nation