chief executive

American  

[cheef ig-zek-yuh-tiv] / ˈtʃif ɪgˈzɛk yə tɪv /

noun

1. the president of the United States.

   the powers of the chief executive, as granted by the Constitution.

2. the governor of a U.S. state.

   the newly elected chief executive of Rhode Island.

3. the head of a government.

   a conference attended by all the European chief executives.

4. Also called chief executive officer.  the head of an organization, company, etc..

   the chief executive of a media corporation.

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chief executive British  

noun

1. the person with overall responsibility for the efficient running of a company, organization, etc

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Etymology

Origin of chief executive

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

In August last year the US arm filed for bankruptcy a second time, a move the company's chief executive Chris Cramer said was a "difficult decision" but a necessary one.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

United Airlines’ chief executive said a merger with American Airlines could have been transformational—but isn’t happening, since American wouldn’t engage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Cassie Sauer, chief executive officer of the Washington State Hospital Association, said that the WISeR vendor in that state, Virtix Health, appears “particularly aggressive and unresponsive.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

R&A chief executive Mark Darbon says that players guilty of on-course misconduct could receive a two shot penalty at the Open in July.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

She is like a cross between the chief executive officer of the world’s largest corporation and the chief executive officer of the world’s second largest corporation.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe