philgoddard May 16, 2012:

French: Président-directeur général (chairman & chief executive) (PDG)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_executive_officer#Interna...

Jocelyne Cuenin May 16, 2012:

Pas trop le temps de relire toute la discussion à 100 %, mais si je me souviens bien de ce que j'ai lu avant-hier, le directeur général délégué est bien le numéro 2 (il a pratiquement les mêmes pouvoirs que le no 1). D'ailleurs d'après la loi de ??, les anciens directeurs généraux entérinés par le conseil d'administration ont été renommés directeurs généraux délégués. Le directeur général adjoint vient après et est en charge d'un domaine bien spécifique. On voit souvent directeur général adjoint en charge de ... selon http://deu.proz.com/kudoz/german_to_french/insurance/1586930... le dir gen adjoint serait un COO.

philgoddard May 14, 2012:

If you read my last discussion entry, you'll see that's exactly what I said. First he was assistant chief executive (not assistant to the chief executive), and now he's deputy chief executive, which I'll post as an answer.

Jack Dunwell (asker) May 14, 2012:

Phil...... Right, I mentioned CAC40 below. Actually "Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer" as a job title usually means that you deal with administration, get things sorted out that the CEO has insufficient time for. But this chap is N° 2 (finally) in a large company.

philgoddard May 14, 2012:

I also asked whether it's a large company. If so, there may well be things like English press releases and annual reports online, and you can check what he's called in English.
If it's definitely two separate jobs, then he's presumably been promoted, and one is more senior. I would say "assistant chief executive" for "adjoint", his first job, and "deputy chief executive" for "délégué", the second.
I don't agree with your comment about "assistant". Yes, if he was "assistant to the chief executive", that might be a more junior administrative role, but "assistant chief executive" sounds fine to me.

Jack Dunwell (asker) May 14, 2012:

Hello Phil Within the same company he had these 2 rôles at different times. Yes, this is more on the right track, I feel. Whenever I come across these "delégués" I usually think in terms of US usage...Vice/, which helps make it stand up. 11 years as Directeur Général délégué. I'm wary of "assistant(s)" as its a bit close to someone doing the admin/secretarial work especially "Assistant to". He was "adjoint" before he became "délégué"

philgoddard May 14, 2012:

Also, what do you mean by "he was also a Directeur Général délégué"? He used to be "délégué" and now he is "adjoint"? To me, these both mean the same thing.

philgoddard May 14, 2012:

There is little significant difference in English between "vice", "deputy" and "assistant". However, "directeur général" usually translates as "chief executive" if it's a large or medium-sized company, and if that is the case (is it?) I would say deputy or assistant chief executive.

CHAKIB ROULA (X) May 14, 2012:

Or deputy manager

Sian Cooper May 14, 2012:

Adjoint (à) versus (something-) Adjoint I am of course ready to bow to the general opinion and the dictionaries, but I would like to raise a discussion nevertheless. The difference between 'Adjoint à' something and something 'Adjoint'; if we take the example of the teaching profession, 'Adjoint au Principal' means what I would call Assistant Head; 'Principal Adjoint' means what I would call Deputy Head. The Principal Adjoint (Deputy) is (in the French education hierarchy) of equal seniority to the Head, but with different responsibilities; and in the Head's absence, takes on entirely their responsibilities and authority.

I do see an Assistant General Manager as a lower-level post than a Directeur Général-Adjoint, although in this instance, the "Directeur Général délégué" is probably the deputy role, so that is undoubtedly the sensible solution in this case.