We do this not sure of the implications specifically but we decided to use and internal and external job title. So the person internally would be a senior sales manager but the job card states sales director to help him get thought the door or businesses that are a little short sighted.

Hi Rachel,

Company Director is a specific title, however Director is much vaguer and I don't think has a specific, recognised meaning in the same way. In business teaching, 'Director' is someone who leads or supervises a specific area of the company.

It is not necessary a benefit having the title (unless you actually are a Company Director). Sometimes it comes across as a bit silly or petty. Ad agencies, recruitment agencies, and the media for example seem to have everyone as Director-something - Sales Director, Assistant Sales Director, External Sales Director (UK), Junior Sales Director ... you get the drift ;)

I worked for a photography agency with this type of title-naming, myself and my colleague were on reception. We made ourselves badges calling ourselves 'Internal/External Verbalisation Director' (me on the switchboard) and 'Hospitality and Welcoming Director' (her, on front desk).

There are no significant implications. Adding the word Director doesnt confirm any special status

Hi Rachel

I think you may be worrying that using the title "director" could make someone a de facto director.

A de facto director, as opposed to a de jure director, is someone who has acquired the legal status of company director with all the responsibilities and personal liability even though they are not registered at Companies House as a company director because in fact they wield the same authority as a de jure (or by law) director.

So a director is as a director does. Plenty of people have a director title without acquiring the accountabilities of a de jure director.

In reply to Elizabeth Divver:

Think it's most unwise to the point of folly for many reasons for a company to allow someone to be called (especially) 'Sales Director' if they're not a legally registered board director of the company.

For that reason, many companies use either 'Director of.....' or Associate Director' as job titles. See eg

simply-docs.co.uk/.../Letter-Appointing-Associate-Director

In reply to David:

Davud it’s now very very common to use X Director rather than the more tradition Director of....

Would say there are probably thousands ( if not more) X Director roles who have no official Director legal responsibility. It’s something that used to be observed but no longer.

In reply to Keith:

Some apparently well-informed commentary from 2009, Keith:

"......The two major issues with using the job title "Director" for someone who is not a registered director are:

The issue for employees is that an employee who is not an actual registered company director may be treated and held to account in the same manner as an actual director (but may not benefit from the same insurance policies put in place to protect the actual directors); and

The issue for company is that they may find themselves bound by the actions of an employee exercising the rights that normal directors have even though they are not an actual registered director. It is not sufficient for a company to try and wash its hands of the act of an employee who they have given the job title "director" as the company have facilitated this and effectively held that person out as having the additional rights and responsibilities of being a registered company director....."


Source: www.linkedin.com/.../

It has no material implications, but my exercising is that in sales, it can be helpful if you are selling to senior people to have an equivalent title.

Bear in mind, too, that in the American naming convention a director is less senior than a VP, so it is open to interpretation.

In reply to Keith:

Definitely the way, especially in sales roles. When dealing with clients it can often be easier to get your foot in the door with them if you have Director in your job title.