The Probert Encyclopaedia of Money

CHAIRMAN

The chairman is the most senior officer in a company, who presides at the annual general meeting of the company and usually also at meetings of the board of directors. He may combine the roles of chairman and managing director, especially in a small company of which he is the majority shareholder, or he may be a figurehead, without executive participation in the day-to-day running of the company. He is often a retired managing director. In the USA the person who performs this function is often called the president. If this office is filled by a woman, she is known as a chairwoman or chairperson. To avoid this complication the officer is now sometimes referred to as the chair.
Research Chairman