honcho

n., pl., -chos.
One who is in charge; a manager or leader: "Now that Hollywood honchos have discovered the verdant beachfront villages, the stores have grown in scope and sophistication" (David Field).

tr.v., -choed, -cho·ing, -chos.
To direct or manage: "He . . . is honchoing preparations for the forthcoming . . . economic summit" (Newsweek).

[Japanese hanchō, squad leader : han, squad (from Middle Chinese pa·n, arrangement, class) + chō, chief (from Middle Chinese trؖanj).]

(HAWN-choh)

noun
One who is in charge of a situation; leader; boss.

verb tr.
To organize, manage, or lead a project, event, etc.

Etymology
From Japanese honcho, from hon (squad) + cho (chief).

Usage
"It picked up three awards, including best editor for head honcho Anthony Thornton ..." — Owen Gibson, New Media Diary, The Guardian (London) Oct 14, 2002.

"Believe it or not, you can buy a $6,000 shower curtain for your home. But why would you? Former Tyco International tycoon Dennis Kozlowski did. He also spent $2,200 on a wastebasket, nearly $3,000 on coat hangers and nearly $6,000 on sheets. ... `The prices are not out of line, but they're off the scale when it comes to priorities," says Bilhuber, whose client list includes ex-AOL Time Warner honcho Robert Pittman, Michael Douglas, David Bowie and his model wife, Iman, and designer Hubert Givenchy." — Maria Puente, Tchotchkes of the Rich And Infamous, USA Today (McLean, Va.) Sep 27, 2002. (A tchotchke [CHACH-kuh] is a cheap trinket, a knickknack.)

---

A slang term describing the leader or person in charge of an organization.

Investopedia Says:
The CEO of a company could be referred to as the honcho or "head honcho."

Related Links:
CEOs, CFOs, presidents and vice presidents: learn how to tell the difference. The Basics Of Corporate Structure
Financial statements don't tell you everything about a company's health. Investigate the management behind the numbers! Evaluating A Company's Management
Make sure you assess whether a CEO has a stake in doing a good job for you, the shareholder. Lifting the Lid on CEO Compensation
Company managers are often skilled at fooling investors. Be critical and don't believe the hype. Get Tough On Management Puff

noun

One who is highest in rank or authority: boss, chief, chieftain, director, head, headman, hierarch, leader, master. Idioms: cock of the walk. See over/under.

The person in charge which is not necessarily the person assigned to be in charge. See HMFIC.