roles
Chief Product Officer (CPO)
Primary Role:
Executive accountable for product vision, growth, and long-term differentiation
Reporting Relations:
Reports to CEO; board-facing
Decision Making Authority:
Enterprise-level product authority
Stratigic Planning
Defines company-wide product vision
Team Management:
Leads full product leadership org
Meeting Involvment:
Executive + board leadership
Project Management:
Portfolio and M&A input
Communication:
External thought leadership; investor comms
Professional Development:
→ CEO
Product Lead
Primary Role:
De facto head of product in small org or startup
Reporting Relations:
Reports to CEO/Founder
Decision Making Authority:
Full product decision authority
Stratigic Planning
Owns company product vision
Team Management:
May manage 1–3 PMs/designers
Meeting Involvment:
Executive team participant
Project Management:
Owns all product initiatives
Communication:
Internal + external (customers/investors)
Professional Development:
→ Head of Product / VP
Head of Product Management
Primary Role:
Leads PM discipline specifically (may partner with Design/Eng heads separately)
Reporting Relations:
Reports to VP/CPO/CEO
Decision Making Authority:
Hiring, standards, process authority
Stratigic Planning
Sets PM operating model
Team Management:
Manages PM org
Meeting Involvment:
Leadership team participant
Project Management:
Portfolio oversight
Communication:
Org-wide + recruiting brand
Professional Development:
→ VP / CPO