Business titles or corporate titles are given to those who have a high level of responsibility for a company's success and profitability. They are the individuals who must strategize, plan and collaborate to keep a company or organization operating efficiently.

For purposes of this article, let's define "corporate title" as an indicator of seniority versus a "functional title" denoting specific area of responsibility (e.g., Managing Director vs. Financial Controller).

CEO – Chief Executive Officer This is the highest-ranking role in a company. CEOs oversee all business operations and decisions and are responsible for the success of the organization. All other C-suite executives report to the CEO. In some cases, the founder or co-founder of the company serves as the CEO.

The board of directors forms the backbone of a company's governance. They oversee the broad direction and policy of the business. Their responsibilities include making major decisions and holding regular board meetings. They also must ensure the best interests of the company are always a priority.