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As the company’s senior operational executive, the CEO is responsible for defining and executing strategy and overseeing all business activities through the Executive Committee under their supervision. While positioned at the top of the operational organization, the CEO implements a roadmap developed in conjunction with shareholders and reports to them on a regular basis.

The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for implementing the financial management strategy defined by the CEO and Executive Management. The CFO also contributes to shaping this strategy within their areas of expertise. Typically, the role oversees accounting, management control, treasury, taxation, budgeting processes, and sometimes legal affairs.

The Human Resources function generally encompasses two complementary dimensions, the relative importance of which varies depending on the organization :

• A technical and legal dimension related to personnel administration, often involving cross-functional projects such as harmonization of employment terms and conditions, collective bargaining agreements, employee representative bodies, payroll systems, and the centralization of support functions.
• A strategic dimension focused on employee relations, corporate culture, and organizational development. This highlights the critical role of human capital as a key driver of business success. The Human Resources Director serves as an internal advisor to both management and employees, particularly when also responsible for internal communications.

The broad term “Industrial Management” covers a wide range of responsibilities depending on the company’s core business and size. These may include manufacturing operations, subcontracting, supply chain management, industrialization, production planning, methods engineering, scheduling, maintenance, research and development (R&D), engineering offices, technical platforms, and related functions.

Before the widespread adoption of the term “Supply Chain,” the word “logistics” was used to describe a variety of activities, including internal logistics, external logistics, transportation logistics, and industrial logistics. As a result, there was often considerable ambiguity regarding the scope of the function, which had not yet fully evolved into the integrated, end-to-end discipline it represents today.

The Commercial Director is responsible for implementing the company’s commercial strategy, having actively contributed to its development through market knowledge and expertise in distribution channels. Strong leadership and management capabilities are essential to supervise sales teams operating under diverse business models and structures.

The Marketing Director contributes to the development and enhancement of the company’s value proposition by providing market analysis and product strategy insights. In some organizations, the role also includes an operational component, supporting sales teams through targeted marketing initiatives and campaigns.

The Information Systems function ensures the effective processing, management, and flow of information across the organization. Information Systems departments are sometimes mistakenly viewed as cost centers; however, the absence of robust and reliable systems can result in the loss of critical information and expose the entire business to significant risks.

CIOs and digital leaders must combine a high level of operational responsiveness with the ability to anticipate technological developments, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data management, and digital transformation.