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

Chris Cate, president and chief executive of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the project is going through the group’s review process but it has supported it thus far.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

The chief executive of Cireco Scotland, Robin Baird, said he was confident that all staff were directed to safe escape routes.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

"We are committed to establishing long-term partnerships in the region," said ASML's chief executive officer Christophe Fouquet in a statement.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

The chief executive of Mercedes-Benz MBG -1.31%decrease; red down pointing triangle says the German automaker would be willing to move into defense production as long as it made “business sense.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Perhaps following the lead of the state’s chief executive, Durham first used the bureaucratic device that could be called “Death by Committee.”

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson