Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents general management: the work of the chief executive officer (CEO) and their inherent sphere of responsibility. It presents practical, down-to-earth insights for practicing senior managers, rooted in solid academic work. The book provides an integrative perspective of the chief executive’s agenda. It also presents a collection of case study abstracts developed within the business schools of the contributing authors as well as from other schools that integrate the network led by IESE. The book explores topics such as the agenda of the Latin American CEO; the governance roles of the CEO as a creator of the internal context of the firm; the roles of boards of directors and top management teams; stakeholder management; the influence of ownership on the CEO; and risk management.