What Does a Chief Revenue Officer Do? CRO vs CCO
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Chief Revenue Officer owns all the functions that generate revenue — typically sales, and often marketing, customer success, and revenue operations — under one leader accountable for growth. It overlaps heavily with the Chief Commercial Officer role; the difference is usually emphasis and company […]
What Does a Managing Director Do?
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Managing Director typically leads a business, division, or market end to end — owning its performance, team, and commercial results. In many companies the MD is effectively the CEO of a market or unit; in others, a senior operational leader beneath the CEO. As […]
What Does a General Manager Do?
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA General Manager is the senior leader accountable for a whole business, site, or unit — owning its performance, its team, and its customer experience day to day. In hospitality and multi-site businesses especially, the GM holds operational command and commercial ownership together, and is […]
Leadership Assessment: How Executives Are Evaluated in a Search
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerExecutive assessment goes far beyond a CV. A rigorous search evaluates a candidate against the specific mandate — track record and how they achieved it, leadership style, cultural fit, judgement, and motivation — through in-depth interviews, referencing, and structured assessment. The goal is evidence about […]
President vs CEO: What’s the Difference?
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA CEO holds ultimate accountability — strategy, the executive team, and the external face of the business. A president is typically the senior operational leader beneath or alongside the CEO, often running the business day to day or leading a major division or market. Where […]
What Does a Chief Product Officer Do? The CPO Role Explained
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Chief Product Officer owns the product vision and portfolio — what gets made, why, and how it evolves. In beauty and consumer businesses that spans development, innovation, and the pipeline that keeps a brand relevant, connecting consumer insight, science or design, and commercial strategy […]
What Does a CFO Do? The Chief Financial Officer Role Explained
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Chief Financial Officer owns financial leadership — reporting, controls, planning, and capital — and, in strong businesses, partners with the CEO on the decisions that drive growth and value. The modern CFO is a strategic and commercial leader, not just a steward of the […]
What Does a COO Do? The Chief Operating Officer Role Explained
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Chief Operating Officer runs the operational engine of a business — turning strategy into execution across operations, supply chain, and functions. The remit varies enormously, from broad second-in-command to focused operations leader, and is defined by what the CEO needs. It is the hire […]
What Does a Board Director Do? A Guide for Consumer & PE-Backed Businesses
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA board director provides governance, oversight, and counsel — holding management accountable, guiding strategy, and bringing independent, experienced perspective. In consumer and PE-backed businesses, non-executive directors and chairs often bring specific sector or functional expertise, and the right board becomes a genuine asset rather than […]
What Does a Chief Digital Officer Do? The CDO Role Explained
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Chief Digital Officer (CDO) leads digital strategy and transformation — typically owning data and technology, the digital customer experience, e-commerce, and the organisational change to make a business genuinely digital. The role exists to drive digital across the whole company rather than leave it […]
