Why The Pretentious Titles?
For a very long time, businesses were run by a Board of specialists: technical, accounting, personnel, etc.
Each Board member was a [specific] Director; headed by the Managing Director, and perhaps Chairman. (Sometimes one person was both MD and Chair; and the Chairman called "President" in the USA).
Now though, it's all "Chief [Role] Officer".
I have heard "Chief People Officer". If that means "Personnel Director" at least it is a lot better than that dreadful "Human Resources" idiocy.
This morning I heard of another, one of Manchester Airport's managers: "Chief Strategy Officer".
What the heck is one of those?
Where did all this "Chief... Officer" flummery originate?
Why?
What is wrong with "Director"? The roles have not changed although some organisations have added extra roles having arcane titles so of no clear purpose, like "Chief Strategy Officer".
(HS2 used to have a so-called "Director of Strategic Partnerships"... Presumably paid a five-figure salary to do what? At least he or she was a "Director" though at the time none of this massive engineering project's directors had any transport or engineering background or brief, judging by their titles.They ran the support services like Personnel and Finance: very important, with the possible exception of the DSP, but still only support.)
Each Board member was a [specific] Director; headed by the Managing Director, and perhaps Chairman. (Sometimes one person was both MD and Chair; and the Chairman called "President" in the USA).
Now though, it's all "Chief [Role] Officer".
I have heard "Chief People Officer". If that means "Personnel Director" at least it is a lot better than that dreadful "Human Resources" idiocy.
This morning I heard of another, one of Manchester Airport's managers: "Chief Strategy Officer".
What the heck is one of those?
Where did all this "Chief... Officer" flummery originate?
Why?
What is wrong with "Director"? The roles have not changed although some organisations have added extra roles having arcane titles so of no clear purpose, like "Chief Strategy Officer".
(HS2 used to have a so-called "Director of Strategic Partnerships"... Presumably paid a five-figure salary to do what? At least he or she was a "Director" though at the time none of this massive engineering project's directors had any transport or engineering background or brief, judging by their titles.They ran the support services like Personnel and Finance: very important, with the possible exception of the DSP, but still only support.)
