President and CEO

Despite the name CEO to CEO, I often work with both President and CEO. Sometimes they are the same person, sometimes not. In mid size organizations, the CEO usually takes on the external and strategic role, and the President is more operational. In smaller firms, the leader often holds both titles, or simply chooses one or the other.

Owner CEO

Privately held firms often blur the role of owner with the role of CEO. Truly they are often the same person, but in many partnerships or family owned businesses, there are several owners and only one CEO. A huge issue in firms like this is what “hat” each person should have on at what time. Add to that the role of director (as in Board of Directors) and it can be hard to sort out appropriate behavior. I have significant experience in grappling with such issues.
 

CEO and Founder

This evokes images of Silicon Valley startups where the creative founder-engineer holds the title of CEO at the start. Then in comes the VC money along with a professional CEO. The founder then is just the founder, with a seat on the board so he doesn’t feel too badly. As soon as the business doesn’t need the founder’s technical genius, it’s good-bye. The founder’s only hope is that his ever increasingly diluted ownership share will bring him a few million upon a liquidation event.

Founders can remain as CEOs if they want to if they keep more than 50% ownership. They can also stay CEO if they build their skills as fast as their business grows. That’s where I can help.