A President or General Manager (GM) is an executive responsible for an entire business or significant division. Often second to the CEO (or acting as the chief executive in a division), this role involves total oversight of operations and strategy execution for that entity.
What do they do? Presidents/GMs set strategy for their company or unit, lead all functional teams (from sales and operations to finance), and have profit-and-loss accountability. They “oversee daily operations, manage resources, and ensure the company’s profitability and growth”. Key duties include developing business plans, setting performance objectives, coordinating between departments, and adapting products or services to market demands. They essentially function as the CEO of their division or company, ensuring that all parts of the business work together to meet strategic goals.
How is success measured? Success for a President or GM is very results-oriented: primarily the financial performance and market growth of the business under their control. Common metrics are revenue and profit growth, return on investment, market share expansion, and operational efficiency improvements. A successful General Manager achieves or exceeds the unit’s financial targets (e.g. hitting revenue goals and profit margins), while also fostering innovation and maintaining high performance across teams . They are also judged on strategic outcomes – for instance, entering a new market successfully or improving customer satisfaction – as well as the ability to solve problems and adapt the business to challenges. In short, their success is the company’s success within their scope.
Salary Range (USA): Presidents and General Managers earn executive-level compensation reflecting their broad responsibilities. In mid-to-large U.S. companies, base salaries often range from the mid-six figures upward. For example, one salary survey reports the average base salary for a General Manager in the U.S. is about $336,000 per year, plus an average bonus around $133,000. Total pay can thus approach or exceed $450,000 annually for many GMs. Of course, pay varies by company size: a GM of a smaller mid-market firm might earn closer to low-to-mid six figures, whereas Presidents of large divisions or companies can see $300,000–$500,000+ in annual compensation . In top Fortune 500 firms, the President/COO roles even reach seven-figure packages when incentives are included. The role’s pay is commensurate with its impact – tying significant rewards to the business results the President/GM delivers.