
Robert A. Marsico
Partner
201-896-7165 rmarsico@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Author: Robert A. Marsico
Date: April 18, 2016
Partner
201-896-7165 rmarsico@sh-law.comBusinesses are increasingly becoming more “creative” when awarding titles to corporate executives. Examples include chief experience officers, chief customer officer, and chief knowledge officers to name a few.
One new leadership position that is gaining traction is the Chief Culture Officer. As the title suggests, the role of the CCO is to keep an eye on the company’s organizational culture and ensure that the company’s strategic vision is being carried out from top to bottom. For many companies, top concerns for a chief culture officer include brand consistency, corporate ethics, and employee compliance.
Google was one of the first companies to appoint a chief culture officer when it bestowed the title on its head of human resources in 2006. The role has grown more important as the company has grown from a search engine provider to a multi-national conglomerate. Other companies with a CCO include Sea World Entertainment Inc. and Zappos.com, Inc.
Locally, a number of businesses across New Jersey are taking steps to address corporate culture. For example, Goya Foods places emphasis on making employees happy, which, in turn, makes them more productive. Accounting firm WithumSmith + Brown, which has several offices in New Jersey, actively monitors its culture.
WithumSmith CEO William “Bill” R. Hagaman told New Jersey Business Magazine, “Culture is something like a flower: You need to water it, you need to prune it at times, and you need to take care of it. If you don’t, it is just going to wilt and go away. [Corporate culture] is not something of which you can say: ‘We’ve got a great culture, and all of a sudden I can sit back and just let it go.’ We need to be thinking about it every day, regarding how we can make it better.”
While concerns about company culture often arise during mergers and acquisitions, proponents of the chief culture officer position argue that culture must be continually monitored and cultivated. “Cultures that encourage inappropriate behavior and inhibit change to more appropriate strategies tend to emerge slowly and quietly over a period of years, usually when firms are performing well,” according to John Kotter and James Heskett’s book Corporate Culture and Performance. “Once these cultures exist, they can be enormously difficult to change because they are often invisible to the people involved, because they help support the existing power structure in the firm.”
However, as positions in the C-suite continue to grow, many are asking where to draw the line. After all, how many “chiefs” can one company have? The bottom-line is that corporate titles should mean something. Without the necessary authority, resources, and infrastructure to support the position, the office of chief culture officer may only serve as a window dressing.
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Business partnerships, much like marriages, function exceptionally well when partners are aligned but can become challenging when disagreements arise. Partnership disputes often stem from conflicts over business strategy, financial management, and unclear role definitions among partners. Understanding Business Partnership Conflicts Partnership conflicts place significant stress on businesses, making proactive measures essential. Partnerships should establish detailed […]
Author: Christopher D. Warren
*** The original article was featured on Bloomberg Tax, April 28, 2025 — As a tax attorney who spends much of my time helping people and companies who have large, unresolved issues with the IRS or one or more state tax departments, it often occurs to me that the best service that I can provide […]
Author: Scott H. Novak
On January 28, 2025, the Trump Administration terminated Gwynne Wilcox from her position as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or the Board). Gwynne Wilcox, a union side lawyer for Levy Ratner, was confirmed to the Board for an original term in 2021 and confirmed again for a successive five-year term expiring […]
Author: Matthew F. Mimnaugh
Breach of contract disputes are the most common type of business litigation. Therefore, nearly all New York and New Jersey businesses will likely have to deal with a contract dispute at least once. Understanding when to file a breach of contract lawsuit and how long you have to sue for breach of contract is essential […]
Author: Brittany P. Tarabour
Closing your business can be a difficult and challenging task. For corporations, the process includes formal approval of the dissolution, winding up operations, resolving tax liabilities, and filing all required paperwork. Whether you need to understand how to dissolve a corporation in New York or New Jersey, it’s imperative to take all of the proper […]
Author: Christopher D. Warren
Commercial leases can take a variety of forms, which is often confusing for both landlords and tenants. Understanding the different types, especially the gross lease structure, is important when selecting the lease that best suits your needs. One key distinction between lease types is how rent is calculated and paid. This article addresses the two […]
Author: Robert L. Baker, Jr.
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Let`s get in touch!
Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!