director general

American  

noun

plural

directors general

1. the executive head of an organization or of a major subdivision, as a branch or agency, of government.

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director-general British  

noun

1. the head of a large organization such as the CBI or BBC

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Etymology

Origin of director general

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The news of the cuts comes in advance of the arrival of a new BBC director general, former Google executive Matt Brittin, who will officially succeed the recently departed Tim Davie on 18 May.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“This trade measure helps pulls us back from the brink,” Axel Eggert, director general of the European Steel Association, said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Walsh will join IndiGo, India's largest airline, in August after the end of his term as the director general of the International Air Transport Association.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

But Paul Wyatt, director general for security policy at the UK defence ministry, said Europe and the United States needed each other.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Perhaps Yi Young-hoon, the director general of the National Museum of Korea, said it best.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler