CTO (Chief Technology Officer)

Chief Technical Officer, the abbreviation CTO is used. It is a term that refers to the position of technical director (sometimes also production director). CTO designation is used mainly in American English; in British English the designation Technical director is used. In other countries, both expressions are used.

Responsibility of CTO: Technical director is one of the top managers in those types of organizations that manufacture or produces products (i.e. virtually all industrial enterprises and some of the service sector, such as IT companies). Other organizations, in practice, do not need the position of CTO.
His main responsibility is to coordinate all technical aspects of production, as well as R & D (Research & Development). CTO’s task is to plan the technical aspects of production, develop and implement technical strategy (technological strategy) and determine directions of the enterprise technology development. Technical Director should have a significant insight on available technologies and market trends. Greater demands are placed on technical qualification and experience for the position of CTO than on soft skills, as with other managers.
But like other managers, he must meet the appropriate level of managerial skills.

In manufacturing organizations, along with the CTO, the top management usually consists of:

• Director General, also uses the acronym CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
• Director of Finance, also uses the acronym CFO (Chief Financial Officer)
• Director of ICT, also uses the abbreviation CIO (Chief Information Officer)
• Director of Personnel, also uses the acronym CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer)
• Director of Business, also uses the acronym CSO (Chief Sales Officer)