| I have recently been doing quite a bit of work in the | | | | extreme examples of form over substance.So where |
| European Community and more particularly in the UK. | | | | did all these titles come from? If I'm candid, I can't say |
| One of the things that I've found interesting is that | | | | for sure, so what follows is my best attempt at |
| many of our European brethren are not familiar with | | | | reconstructing American title history and therefore |
| the term "C-suite executive". As the yank from the | | | | should not be taken as fact. As I noted earlier, I believe |
| colonies I've found myself attempting to rationally | | | | that banks induced the inflationary period that has so |
| explain the phenomenon of "Title Proliferation" (which is | | | | tightly gripped Corporate America with regard to titles |
| comprised of "Title Escalation" and "Title Inflation") that | | | | only to have insurance companies and other financial |
| we've experienced in the US over the last several | | | | services firms follow suit. In America, as goes Wall |
| years. After a few explanations and a little reflection, I | | | | Street, so goeth the rest of Corporate America. Yes |
| thought this topic worthy of today's blog post (or blog | | | | the heard mentality is still alive and well...Title Escalation |
| venting session as the case may be).It wasn't that long | | | | on the other hand (at least where used appropriately) |
| ago that we only had a handful of C-suite positions: | | | | simply evolved over time to keep pace with corporate |
| Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief | | | | growth and maturation. By way of example, when |
| Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer...Oh what | | | | corporate finance became so fractionalized by |
| a wonderful era when Corporate America was a | | | | complexity and specialization, it was necessary to |
| simple place where a president was a president and | | | | draw a distinction between investment and finance |
| not a division manager posing as a president.All kidding | | | | and thus the duties, roles and responsibilities were |
| aside, in this author's humble opinion there are legitimate | | | | divided between the Chief Financial Officer and the |
| needs and corresponding uses and benefits for certain | | | | new role of Chief Investment Officer. The same holds |
| titles when applied appropriately for true corporate | | | | true for advancements in all practice areas and |
| benefit. That being said, I'm never thrilled to be called on | | | | disciplines...As technology became more advanced, |
| by someone who introduces themself as something | | | | staffs and budgets grew as did corporate |
| more than the reality of who they really are...Clever | | | | dependencies a various platforms, environments and |
| marketing is one thing, but gross embellishment is quite | | | | toolsets and thus the need for more senior leadership |
| another.Let's see if we can't make sense out of this | | | | positions such as Chief Information Officers and Chief |
| debacle by first defining the difference between title | | | | Technology Officers. When marketing evolved beyond |
| escalation and title inflation. Title escalation is the | | | | buying media in print, TV and radio mediums to |
| creation of a new position which in turn truly requires | | | | managing multiple brands across multiple mediums on a |
| the creation of a new corresponding title. Title inflation | | | | global basis the Chief Marketing Officer was born and |
| on the other hand is bestowing a grandiose title upon | | | | the list goes on...When all is said and done, I believe |
| someone who is either underqualifed or otherwise not | | | | necessary and appropriate title escalation by design is |
| legitimately deserving of the title. I believe the | | | | a valuable and needed evolutionary phenomenon that |
| phenomenon of title inflation in the US to have been | | | | constantly pushes the envelope of innovation and is |
| started in the banking industry...I woke up one day and | | | | good for business. It is the unnecessary, illogical and |
| suddenly found that anyone who was not a teller was | | | | harmful aspects of title inflation that I take exception |
| a Vice President of something or other...Let's examine | | | | to.So there you have it...I've been referred to as the |
| the current list of C-suite titles (excluding the ones | | | | world's greatest repository of corporate dribble and in |
| mentioned above):- Chief Strategy Officer- Chief | | | | this post I think I've lived-up to my billing...Thanks for |
| Information Officer- Chief Technology Officer- Chief | | | | allowing the venting session.Mike Myatt is the Chief |
| Investment Officer- Chief Innovation Officer- Chief | | | | Strategy Officer at N2growth. N2growth is a leading |
| Talent Officer- Chief Marketing Officer- Chief | | | | venture growth consultancy providing a unique array |
| Knowledge Officer- Chief Compliance OfficerI'm sure | | | | of professional services to high growth companies on |
| that by the time this article gets posted there may be | | | | a venture based business model. The rare combination |
| a few other titles that need to be added to the list. All | | | | of branding and corporate identity services, capital |
| puns aside, there have been times when I found | | | | formation assistance, market research and business |
| myself completely in awe of the talent, experience and | | | | intelligence, sales and product engineering, leadership |
| intelligence possessed by individuals that have held the | | | | development and talent management, as well as |
| aforementioned titles. In other circumstances I have | | | | marketing, advertising and public relations services |
| been totally embarrassed for corporations that have | | | | make N2growth the industry leader in strategic growth |
| allowed their entities to be represented by such | | | | consulting. |