| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Leadership and Senior Management |
| Level | Leadership |
| Reports to | Chief Executive Officer |
| Direct reports | Business Heads, Functional Heads, Chief Operating Officer |
| Experience | 18+ years across functions, with several years running a business or large P and L |
President job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: President
Department: Leadership and Senior Management
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A President is a top executive who runs the company's operations or a major business, usually as the second in command below the Managing Director or CEO. In Indian groups the title often marks the leader of a large division or the whole operating business. They turn strategy into results across functions and carry a large part of the profit and loss. A good President delivers the operating plan, builds strong function and business heads, keeps execution tight, and is ready to step up to the top job.
Key responsibilities
- Run the operating business or a major division, and own its profit and loss.
- Turn the company strategy into operating plans and targets across functions.
- Lead the function and business heads, and hold them to their numbers.
- Drive growth, efficiency and margin across the business under charge.
- Approve major operating decisions on pricing, capacity, hiring and spend.
- Run the operating review rhythm, and act early on gaps to plan.
- Represent the business to large customers, partners and regulators.
- Lead major projects, expansions and cost programmes to completion.
- Build succession and a strong leadership bench under them.
- Report business performance and risks to the CEO or Managing Director.
Requirements
- MBA or engineering degree
- Strong record running a business or large division
- Deep experience in the company's industry is an advantage
- 18+ years across functions, with several years running a business or large P and L
KRAs and KPIs for a President
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Business results | Revenue and profit for the business meet the approved plan |
| Margin | Operating margin held at or above the planned level |
| Execution | Operating plan milestones delivered on time each quarter |
| Growth | Growth targets for the business met for the year |
| Leadership bench | Successors identified for the agreed share of key roles |
| Cost programmes | Approved cost and efficiency targets delivered for the year |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: BI dashboards, ERP systems, MS Excel, PowerPoint, Financial models.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director
Interview questions for a President
- How would you grow this business while protecting its margin?
- How do you set up an operating rhythm that keeps every function on plan?
- Walk me through a large P and L you ran and how you turned it around or grew it.
- How do you decide where to invest and where to cut in a tight year?
- How do you build a leadership bench strong enough to run without you?
- How do you work with the CEO on the split between strategy and execution?
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What does a President do in a company?
A President is a top executive who runs the operating business or a major division, usually second in command below the Managing Director or CEO. They turn strategy into results across functions, own a large part of the profit and loss, lead the function and business heads, and drive growth, margin and execution. They are often being prepared for the top job.
What is the difference between a President and a CEO?
A Chief Executive Officer is the top executive who owns the whole company and reports to the board. A President usually runs operations or a major business and reports to the CEO or Managing Director. In some companies the two titles overlap; in others the President is clearly the second in command and the CEO's likely successor.
Who does a President report to?
A President usually reports to the Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director, and in some companies to the board. Function heads, business heads and often the Chief Operating Officer report to the President. The exact line depends on how the company splits strategy, governance and execution among its most senior leaders.