chief / leader
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chief / executive
A person in a leadership position in a company or organization; a boss or supervisor. The term is often used in modern business contexts.
Der Chief of Product hat die neue Strategie für das kommende Quartal vorgestellt.
The Chief of Product presented the new strategy for the coming quarter.
The two meanings can be easily distinguished by context. In a business environment, for example with words like 'Firma' (company), 'Strategie' (strategy), or 'Marketing' (marketing), it refers to an executive. In a historical or ethnological context, for example with 'Stamm' (tribe) or 'Volk' (people), it refers to the leader of an Indigenous people.
Unser Chief of Marketing hat eine neue Kampagne genehmigt.
Our Chief of Marketing approved a new campaign.
The word 'Chief' is an Anglicism that is used almost exclusively in the jargon of modern, internationally oriented companies and start-ups. It sounds more modern and more specific than the general German word for a manager or executive.
Als Chief Technology Officer ist sie für die gesamte IT-Infrastruktur verantwortlich.
As Chief Technology Officer, she is responsible for the entire IT infrastructure.
'Chief' is usually used as part of an English job title. Common examples are 'Chief Executive Officer' (CEO), 'Chief Financial Officer' (CFO), or 'Chief Operating Officer' (COO).
Der Chief Financial Officer präsentiert die Quartalszahlen.
The Chief Financial Officer presents the quarterly figures.
boss
'der Chef' and 'der Chief' can both mean a person in a leadership role. 'der Chef' is the normal German word for a superior in everyday life and at work. 'der Chief' comes from English and sounds more like a modern business environment, especially in English job titles. In addition, 'Chief' can also mean the head of an Indigenous tribe. The words are easy to confuse because they look and sound similar. In normal German sentences, 'Chef' is almost always more natural; 'Chief' is used more for specific titles or in certain historical and cultural contexts.
Der neue Chief stellt dem Team am Montag die Strategie vor.
The new chief presents the strategy to the team on Monday.
Im Büro fragt der Mitarbeiter seinen Chef nach einem freien Tag.
At the office, the employee asks his boss for a day off.