Dual Roles

[Guest Susan]

It is my understanding that the President and Chairman of the Board are the same roles. Can the President/Chairman also serve as a paid employee of the organization reporting to an Executive Director (whom as President/Chair he/she oversees). Is that not a conflict of interest?

[Chris Harrison]

It is my understanding that the President and Chairman of the Board are the same roles.

Not necessarily. There are some organizations where the bylaws provide for a President who presides over the General Membership meetings but there is a separate Chairman of the Board who only presides over Board meetings. Of course, there are organizations where the President presides over GM and Board meetings. It all depends on what the bylaws provide for.

Can the President/Chairman also serve as a paid employee of the organization reporting to an Executive Director (whom as President/Chair he/she oversees).

Nothing in RONR would prohibit it.

Is that not a conflict of interest?

That is for the organization to decide for itself (hopefully before they have given the President/Chairman the paying job).

[Noelgroup]

Check your bylaws for whether a paid employee can hold any executive positions such as president or chairman. But as Chris H states above, nothing in RONR prohibits it.