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Revision as of 06:55, 20 January 2004 by Stan Shebs (talk | contribs) (types of XOs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)While "Executive officer" literally refers to a person responsible for the performance of duties involved in running an organization, the exact meaning of the role is highly variable, depending on the organization.
In many militaries, an executive officer (XO) is the second-in-command, reporting to the commanding officer (CO). The XO is typically responsible for the management of day-to-day activities, freeing the commander to concentrate on planning the unit's next move. The XO also takes charge in the absence of the commander, and the position is frequently a stepping stone to a command position.
In business, the executive officers are the top officers of a corporation, the chief executive officer (CEO) being the best-known type. The definition varies; for instance, the California Corporate Disclosure Act defines "executive officers" as the five most highly-compensated officers not also sitting on the board of directors.
In government, "executive officer" may be anyone with decisionmaking responsibility in the executive branch of the government.