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.
chief
The leader or head of an Indigenous tribe, especially in North America.
Sitting Bull war ein berühmter Chief des Volkes der Lakota.
Sitting Bull was a famous chief of the Lakota people.
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
Both der Chef and der Chief can refer to a person in a leadership position in a company or organization. Chef is the usual German word for a supervisor, while Chief is mainly used as an English-influenced term in modern business settings. In everyday German, Chef is usually more appropriate.
Die neue Firma stellte einen Chief für die Leitung der Abteilung ein.
The new company hired a chief to lead the department.
Ich bespreche die Urlaubsplanung morgen mit meinem Chef.
I’ll discuss my vacation plans with my boss tomorrow.
