CTO — Chief Technology Officer
Definition: The executive accountable for the technology strategy that lets the business compete. Different from a VP of Engineering — the CTO's job is what to build and why, not just how.
Example
The CTO's platform bet looked expensive on day one and obvious by year two — which is exactly the trade the role exists to make.
When you'll hear it
CTO shows up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. When someone uses it, they're usually referring to chief technology officer — and they expect the room to already know what that means.
FAQs
What does CTO stand for?
CTO stands for Chief Technology Officer.
What does CTO mean in business and finance?
The executive accountable for the technology strategy that lets the business compete. Different from a VP of Engineering — the CTO's job is what to build and why, not just how.
Where will I hear CTO used at work?
CTO comes up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. It's used as shorthand for chief technology officer, so people assume you already know the term.
Related terms
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