Yes, in a corporation, you can have all three roles: Chairman of the Board, CEO, and Vice Chairman of the Board.
The specific relationship between these roles depends on the company’s corporate governance structure.
1. The CEO and The Chairman
The Chairman of the Board (or Board Chair) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) are the two highest-ranking roles, but they have fundamentally different areas of responsibility:
| Role | Primary Responsibility | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Leads the Board of Directors. Ensures proper corporate governance, sets the board agenda, and facilitates communication between the board and management. | Oversight and Strategy (long-term). |
| CEO | Leads the executive management team. Responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations, P&L, and implementing the strategy approved by the board. | Management |