Industries & Functional Areas

ABRES is dedicated to connecting companies to executive search firms with a true depth of understanding both of industry and of executive functional areas. Our specialties include:

Industries

  • Technology
    • Software
    • Hardware
    • Telecom
    • Internet
    • Interactive media
    • Social network
    • Energy efficiency
  • Sciences
    • Pharma
    • Biotech
    • Medical devices
    • Healthcare technology
    • Cleantech/renewable energy (wind, solar, water, biofuels, etc.)
  • Consumer and retail
  • Financial services
    • Asset management
    • Brokerage service
    • Retail banking
    • Trust
    • Merchant banking
    • Investment banking
  • Manufacturing/industrial
  • Government
  • Education
  • Not-for-profit

Functional Areas

  • Board Director: Board directors are often divided into two categories—inside directors and outside directors. Inside directors are employees. Outside directors are also called “independent” directors, since they are considered better able to remain impartial and interested in representing all shareholders. There is also a difference between executive directors and non-executive directors (see Search Industry Lexicon).
  • Chief Executive Officer: Most often reporting to a board of directors, the CEO typically has complete responsibility for profit and loss in the company or subsidiary, whether in a venture-backed startup or Fortune 500 company.
  • President: In certain cases, President is the most senior title in the company, reporting to a board of directors if one exists. In other circumstances, often in a larger company environment, there is a president who reports to a CEO.
  • Chief Financial Officer: The CFO position has become increasingly important in the last few years due to corporate transparency requirements. Reporting to the CEO, the CFO is responsible for internal audit, treasury, accounting and controller functions, as well as financial performance strategy and reporting.
  • Chief Technology Officer: The CTO role is common in technology-intensive companies where research and development budgets are significant. CTOs lead new product development and create product roadmaps. Reports to the CEO.
  • Chief Information Officer: Most often reporting to the CEO, but at times to the president, the CIO typically focuses on a combination of technology infrastructure and management information systems.
  • Chief Operating Officer: Most often reporting to the CEO or president, the COO is responsible for all company operations—ie. product creation and manufacturing. Sometimes this is referred to as the “Mr./Ms. Inside” to the CEO or president’s “Mr./Ms. Outside.”
  • Chief Science Officer: Most common in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals companies, the CSO role is equivalent to the CTO in a technology-intensive company—responsible for the research and development component of the sciences-related business.
  • Chief Sustainability Officer: A very new title, this is the “Chief of Green.” Focused on energy and materials conservation within the corporation, the CSO works on everything from recycling to energy efficiency, sustainable resource substitution and carbon emissions.
  • Chief Marketing Officer: New in the last decade or so, the CMO position was created to elevate the function of marketing to include a more strategic view. Usually reports to the CEO.
  • Chief Revenue Officer: This is a relatively new title for an executive who is singularly
    focused on driving the company’s top-line revenue. The CRO usually reports to the CEO.
  • Chief People Officer: Reporting to the CEO, and sometimes referred to as Chief of People, Chief Talent Officer, or Chief Retention Officer, the CPO arrived in the last decade—a sign of the increased awareness of the importance of human assets to companies.
  • Human Resources: See Chief People Officer.
  • General Manager: Often reporting to a division president or similar title, the general manager usually holds profit and loss responsibility for a product, a line of products, or a geographic region.
  • Vice President (all levels): There are many vice presidents across the organizational chart, from VP Sales to VP Marketing, Operations, Manufacturing, Technology, Finance, Administration, Regulatory Affairs, Business Development, and Corporate Development. Regardless of focus area, VPs are typically responsible for strategic thinking, leadership, management and execution in their areas. The title implies a high level of authority and may come with fiduciary responsibilities.