What are C-levels and what are their roles?

CEO, CFO, CTO, CISO… Looks like alphabet soup, doesn't it? Still, chances are you've heard or read about these acronyms at some point in your professional career. All of them are part of a group of executives we call C-levels. The question is: do you know what a C-level is, what they do, and what their importance is for the proper operation of any company?

Very likely, there are C-levels in your company, as they are crucial to any endeavor. First of all, we need to understand that the “C” here stands for Chief. From this point on, it is easier to understand the concept: C-level professionals are directors and leaders who play a very important role since they are responsible for making strategic decisions and for dictating the future of a brand through their actions.

We are talking about a series of positions that, of course, carry enormous responsibility, have a much higher workload, and are very well paid. They are the top management, responsible for overseeing everything that happens within the company or department. Their work is less manual and more strategic: because they are highly experienced people, their business acumen (what should and shouldn't be done, and, more importantly, when it should be done) can save or break a business.

Understanding each "C"

The most popular C-level professional is, without a doubt, the Chief Executive Officer or CEO, who is sometimes also referred to simply as the president. They are the “face” of the company and are responsible for its administration, with all other “C-levels” reporting directly to them. This position is the most powerful, influential, and respected one in the entire corporate hierarchy.

Right below there is the Chief Operating Officer or COO. Although this position does not exist in Brazilian companies, they are the CEO's right-hand person, responsible for executing the strategies of their superior, who is usually too busy “racking their brains” to make the best decisions. Thus, if the CEO is the brain of operations, the COO is the body that ensures that these plans are carried out.

We also have the Chief Financial Officer or CFO, who heads the financial department and has unrestricted access to the company's finances; the Chief Technology Officer or CTO, who oversees the area of information and internal communications technologies; the Chief Marketing Officer or CMO, who directs the company’s external communications; and the Chief Information Officer (CIO), who has a similar but more technical role than the CTO.

Last, but not least...

But we did not forget one of the most important C-levels for us, who work with information security! It turns out that this “C-level” is relatively new, but many companies, especially larger ones, have already realized its importance and added it to this select group. We are, of course, talking about the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO or CSO), who is the director of information security, responsible for ensuring the security of sensitive company data and records.

However, do not assume that only the CISO/CSO and their team are responsible for ensuring the security of the entire company. On the contrary — security and privacy must be deeply ingrained throughout the corporate culture, which means that all other C-levels need to be properly aware of cyber threats and the importance of investing in this field.

Here's the importance of a good dialogue between the cybersecurity department and all the other departments mentioned — there's no point in having a good CISO/CSO if the CEO does not regard information security as a strategic investment or if the CFO does not believe he or she should release funds for the purchase of protection solutions and to make sure the entire team is cybersecurity aware. Everyone must be on the same page; otherwise, the consequences could be disastrous!