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

BMG’s Chief Executive Thomas Coesfeld will serve as chairman of the combined company and Concord’s current CEO, Bob Valentine, will be the chief executive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Several media outlets - across golf, sports news and finance - reported its imminent closure, before chief executive O'Neil insisted it was business as usual in a tubthumping email to staff.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

At the time R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said there were "big logistical issues" at the venue.

From BBC • 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

Or that Louis V. Gerstner, the former IBM chief executive, hired a Boston litigator to help him push through a plan for a large new house on his $11 million waterfront plot?

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times