Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| director ejecutivo | /diɾeɡtoɾ exekutibo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| gerente general | /xeɾente xeneɾal/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| presidente ejecutivo | /pɾesidente exekutibo/ (from spelling rules) | Spain, masculine |
This term refers to the highest-ranking corporate officer.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase director ejecutivo is a literal translation of "executive director".
Which one should you use?
While director ejecutivo is a direct translation of CEO, gerente general is a very common way to refer to the top person in charge of a company in many Spanish-speaking countries.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile and Peru, gerente general is a commonly used alternative. In Spain, presidente ejecutivo and sometimes consejero delegado are used. In Mexico, director general is often the preferred term.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female CEO, change the masculine director ejecutivo to the feminine directora ejecutiva. The feminine form of gerente general is gerenta general. The feminine form of presidente ejecutivo is presidenta ejecutiva.
Did you know?
- In Spanish business correspondence, it is common to address a director ejecutivo by their academic title, such as Licenciado or Ingeniero, rather than their corporate rank.
- In Spain, the term consejero delegado is used for a CEO, which literally means 'delegated counselor'. This reflects a legal structure where the board of directors delegates specific powers to one individual.
- While you might expect a single word for 'manager', the Spanish term gerente is a direct descendant of the Latin gerentem, which refers to the act of 'carrying' or 'managing' a burden.
Examples in context
- Mi hermano es el Director Ejecutivo de una importante empresa.My brother is the Chief Executive Officer of an important company.
- La Presidenta Ejecutiva de nuestra compañía tiene una visión estratégica única.Our Chief Executive Officer has a unique strategic vision.
- Como Gerente General, tengo la responsabilidad de liderar el crecimiento de la empresa.As the Chief Executive Officer, I am responsible for driving the company's growth.
- Él es el nuevo director ejecutivo.He is the new chief executive officer.
- El director ejecutivo dará un discurso hoy.The chief executive officer will give a speech today.
- Buscamos un director ejecutivo con experiencia.We are looking for a chief executive officer with experience.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking about a new hire in the office.
- JavierHola María, ¿ya conociste al nuevo director ejecutivo?Hi María, have you met the new chief executive officer yet?
- MaríaNo, Javier, todavía no he hablado con él.No, Javier, I haven't spoken with him yet.
- JavierÉl quiere conocer a todo el equipo mañana.He wants to meet the whole team tomorrow.
- MaríaPerfecto, estaré lista para la reunión.Perfect, I will be ready for the meeting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chief executive officer” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries director, general, gerente, presidente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
