noun

C-suite

SEE-sweet

C-suite (noun) means 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. Example: “The proposal needs C-suite approval before anything moves.”

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.

"The proposal needs C-suite approval before anything moves."

"She spent a decade in the C-suite at two listed companies."

adjective

Relating to or aimed at that level of executive.

"It's a C-suite conversation, not something for the project team."

"The magazine targets a C-suite readership."

How to Use C-suite

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe top bosses of a company — the chief executive and the other chiefs.

When to use it

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.

Memory tip

The C-suite runs the company day to day. The board of directors oversees the C-suite on behalf of shareholders — they are not the same group, though a chief executive usually sits on both.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

board of directors executive committee senior leadership team

Common pairings

C-suite executive C-suite level reach the C-suite C-suite buy-in

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The proposal needs _____ approval before anything moves.

Etymology

From the initial C of executive titles beginning with 'chief', plus suite in the sense of a set of senior offices.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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senior management top brass executive team upper management

Antonyms

rank and file junior staff

Related Words

rank masses

Rhymes for C-suite

rite bite lite kite cite mite site white write trite smite quite

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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.

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