Introduction to Business English

A worker contacted his manager and told him he had just received a nice gift of expensive silverware from one of their suppliers he work with and that was bidding to get a contract to supply more parts to company. Since this employee was also on the team that made the selection of who will get the contract to supply parts, this employee felt that he should not accept this gift, but wanted to know what his manager would say.

PEOPLE IN A COMPANY

Every company has hierarchy. The titles of each person symbolizes a

role that they must take to make the company work

Some people may have more than one title

We will look at one company to view their hierarchy and show you a few more.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of Directors are men and women who are elected by shareholders to do three things: Appoint and evaluate a CEO (including

salary payment) Protect the shareholders assets (keep the

money safe) Ensure results in the company (the

company makes money) They do this by working with financial

statements within the company. The number of members can be any

number. (Activision Blizzard has 11)

“CHAIRMAN” OF THE BOARD

The chairman is the head of the board of directors.

His/her roles are: Conduct the meetings with the board To prepare the agenda for the meetings

with the board Being the spokesman for the company

The chairman is voted upon by the members of the board.

Jean-Bernard Levy

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/MANAGING DIRECTOR

Highest ranking executive in a company

His responsibilities are: Develop high level strategies Make major corporate decisions Manage overall operations and resources Communicate actions within the company

to the board and other officers

Robert A. Kotick

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO)

Responsible for the daily operations of the company

Many responsibilities for the COO are dependent on what the CEO wants

The main responsibility for all COO’s are: Report to CEO about day to day operations Create more productive ways for the company

to make money Develop strategies and rewards for employees Develop requirements for each employee

position Maintain and monitor staff expectations Review performance of company

Thomas Tippl

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) / FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

Responsible for the financial risksinvolved within the company.

They have three major responsibilities: Prepare and present accurate records

for shareholders, creditors, and analysts in a timely manner.

Decides how the company will invest their money.

Must identify and report what areas of a company are most efficient and how the company can capitalize on this information.

A CFO + COO = CFOO (Chief Financial Operations Officer)

Thomas Tippl

CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER

Responsible for Customer Satisfaction. They are in charge of:

Call centers Making decisions in:

Sales Marketing after-sales billing

Report to CEO about issues within customer support.

Brian Hodous

CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER

A certified lawyer in charge of legal issues for the company.

The main roles are: Make sure future work isn’t unlawful Make sure present work doesn’t become

unlawful Create contracts Protect company from lawsuits and apply

lawsuits to companies and people.

Chris B. Walther

CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER

Oversees HR and relations with other companies

Their main responsibilities are: Finding great talent for the company Strategies to help the work environment Produce rules for performance Produce benefits for employees (salary,

medical, etc.) Compliance to laws with the country / provinces

/ city/ etc. Report to the CEO

Ann E. Weiser

OTHER OFFICERS

Chief Content Officer Chief Accounting

Officer Chief Engeneering

Officer Chief Information

Officer Chief Learning Officer Chief Medical Officer Chief Privacy Officer Chief Technical Officer

Chief Academic Officer

Chief Analytics Officer Chief Brand Officer Chief Communications

Officer Chief International

Officer Chief Product Officer Chief Tax Officer

PRESIDENT OF COMPANY

President of a company is like a COO Usually given to smaller companies

within a parent company or a company that doesn’t need many officers

They are usually the chairman of the board in a company as well in the US

Still reports to the CEO

Second in command over the CEO or President. Some companies may have multiple vice-

presidents depending on the size of the company

They are to follow what the CEO/President wants them to do and report back on the work.

The hierarchy of Vice-Presidents are:1. Executive Vice President (EVP)2. Group Vice President (GVP)3. Senior Vice President (SVP)4. Corporate Vice President (CVP)5. First Vice President (FVP)6. Vice President (VP)7. Assistant Vice President or Associate Vice President

(AVP)

GENERAL MANAGER

In charge of all areas of one section. For example, in charge of business in China.

They will look at the big picture instead of the day to day tasks that lower managers do.

They will have managers under them to help him complete tasks

Will report to Vice-presidents or the CEO

TREASURER

In charge of risk management for the company.

These risks could include Liquidity Credit Currency Commodities Operations

If the risk is too high for any, it is their job to tell the CEO and other officers about the risks.

http://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar11/directors_officers/index.html