# Company hierarchy **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 6, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-hierarchy/75070 "2001-08-06T04:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-hierarchy/75070/1 "2001-08-06T04:00:54Z")
This is a stupid and pointless question with the sole pourpose of satisfying my curiosity. Now, if a company has a CEO, that’s the highest position for the company, but, in general, on average, how do these other positions rate, from highest to lowest: Chairman/Chairwoman President COO Like I said, this is stupid and pointless, but I am curious. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-hierarchy/75070/2 "2001-08-06T04:11:23Z")
Depends on the company, dude . . . I know of some companies where the CEO is the owner, and is maybe 2 levels of structure above the people on “the floor”. Then again, I’ve worked for companies where a definitive chain of leadership didn’t exist because nobody cared to go past the District Manager. . . Tripler But right now, my CEO is _waaay_ above me. . . ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-hierarchy/75070/3 "2001-08-06T04:12:04Z")
The CEO is the highest operations officer, but the Chairman heads the Board of Directors, who can let the CEO go or for that matter the Chairman. Up in that stata it is a lot of politics, so whichever position you are shotting for don’t think you’ve got it made when you get there (unless you own 51% of the stock). If you own over 1/2 the stock, your title can be shithead and that is the highest position. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-hierarchy/75070/4 "2001-08-06T06:01:52Z")
Public companies have specific rules about what positions must be included. Naturally, there are different rules in different jurisdictions, but generally, it goes something like: Board of Directors (led by the Chairman of the Board) Chief Executive Officer President Chief Operating Officer Chief Financial Officer It isn’t unusual for one person to hold more than one title: Chairman/CEO, CEO/President and President/COO being the most common combinations in my experience. Hope that’s enlightening. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-hierarchy/75070/5 "2001-08-06T07:40:51Z")
Already answered above, but some additional thoughts: The highest powerholder is the shareholder. In many companies, individual shareholders own such a thin slice of the company that this is irrelevant, but if you own enough of a company, you are the head honcho and can effect any changes you see fit. The shareholders elect a board of directors and a chairman of that board. These are the next most powerful, and the chairman is the most powerful of them. The Board of Directors appoint a CEO, who runs the company on a day-to-day basis. The CEO appoints senior management, which generally includes someone running Operations (COO), Sales (VP of Sales), and Finance (CFO). Also other senior managers depending on the industry. VP of Engineering, VP of Marketing for example. Note that the first few levels are pretty hands off. So the shareholders can replace directors, but it’s not very common. The directors typically meet quarterly. It’s not till you get to the CEO that day-to-day power gets exercised. To answer your original question directly, the order goes: chairman, ceo, coo. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-hierarchy/75070/6 "2001-08-06T22:05:24Z")
I thank all of you for your answers. My curiosity has been satisfied. Thanks again.