A chief strategy officer (CSO), or chief strategist, is an executive who is responsible for assisting the chief executive officer with creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives within a company or agency.
A typical CSO is not a pure strategist that creates long-term planning that is isolated from the company's current initiatives. Many CSOs are considered "doers" first and have the past experience to help advise and execute. Chief strategy officers are often executives who have worn many hats before at a variety of companies or agencies before taking on the responsibilities and tasks that come with the job title.
Chief strategy officers are responsible for the critical jobs that are the most important aspects of successful strategy execution:
- Must communicate and implement a company's strategy internally and externally so that all employees, partners, suppliers, and contractors understand the company-wide strategic plan and how it carries out the company's overall goals.
- Must drive decision-making that creates medium- and long-term improvement.
Today many CEOs have less time to devote to executing strategy. As a result, CEOs are appointing CSOs for their organizations. The CSO position is becoming popular amongst many large multinational Fortune 500 companies, including Oracle Corporation, Panasonic, Accenture, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, Cognos, and Global Healthcare Resource, each of whom have created CSO positions in their top management teams.
A chief global strategist (CGS) is one of the highest-ranking corporate officers, administrators, corporate administrators, executives, or executive officers, in charge of the global strategy and the domestic and international expansion of a corporation, company, organization, or agency.
The position is a relatively new one in the private sector and a reflection of the influence of globalization upon companies and other organizations that seek to expand their influence, whether as a matter of necessity to survive or the exploration of an opportunity.
A prominent example is Howard Schultz of Starbucks who was Chairman and CEO but in 2000 left the position of CEO to become Chief Global Strategist. Schultz returned to his previous role of chief executive officer on January 18, 2008.
Famous quotes containing the words chief, strategy and/or officer:
“A regular council was held with the Indians, who had come in on their ponies, and speeches were made on both sides through an interpreter, quite in the described mode,—the Indians, as usual, having the advantage in point of truth and earnestness, and therefore of eloquence. The most prominent chief was named Little Crow. They were quite dissatisfied with the white man’s treatment of them, and probably have reason to be so.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Our strategy in going after this army is very simple. First we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill it.”
—Colin Powell (b. 1937)
“No officer should be required or permitted to take part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. Their right to vote and to express their views on public questions, either orally or through the press, is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of their official duties. No assessment for political purposes on officers or subordinates should be allowed.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)