C-suite
4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for C-suite, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The most senior executives in a company, whose job titles typically begin with 'chief' — the chief executive, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and so on.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
senior management
top brass
executive team
upper management
Antonyms
rank and file
junior staff
How to use C-suite
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
C-suite executive
C-suite level
reach the C-suite
C-suite buy-in
Business jargon, standard in the financial press and corporate writing. Usually capitalised with a hyphen as C-suite, though C-Suite and c-suite also appear.
Etymology
From the initial C of executive titles beginning with 'chief', plus suite in the sense of a set of senior offices.
Full origin of C-suite →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the C-suite and the board of directors?
The C-suite is made up of the executives who manage the business day to day. The board is elected by shareholders to supervise those executives, set strategy and hire or fire the chief executive. Some people sit in both, but the roles are distinct.
Which jobs are in the C-suite?
Typically the CEO, CFO and COO, usually alongside roles such as CTO, CMO, CIO and CHRO. The common thread is a title starting with 'chief' and direct responsibility for a whole function of the business.
Why is it called the C-suite?
Because the titles all begin with 'chief', giving the letter C, and because those executives traditionally occupied the same set of senior offices. The name is a piece of business shorthand rather than a formal term.
