Can a Consultant Be Titled "Principal Consultant and Chief Knowledge Officer" in a Company?

Hi, I want to know if a consultant appointed in a company can have a designation such as "principal consultant and chief knowledge officer" in a company.

Companies hire consultants because they have expertise in a specific field. Many times, their role is advisory, and they may not have a day-to-day job. That is why consultants visit their clients on a case-by-case basis. In certain cases, consultants may visit every week, month, etc.

Employer-Employee vs. Consultant Relationship

The employer-employee relationship is an essential one. In contrast, a company's relationship with a consultant could be considered non-essential or extraneous. Therefore, the question of allotting a designation does not arise. Designations are given to employees and not to consultants. The designation of "Officer" is assigned to paid employees and not to consultants.

Consultant Designations and Agreements

When a company enters into an agreement with a consultant, the agreement may refer to that person as a "Consultant" or "Principal Consultant." Specific examples include "ISO Consultant," "Procurement Consultant," "Showroom Consultant," and so on. Consultants are service providers. To measure their performance, the methods for measuring their services can be defined when framing the contract agreement. This clarity helps avoid confusion at a later stage.

Thanks,

Thanks, Dinesh. In the instant case, the individual is above 60 years old, so they cannot be an employee. He is required to lead the process of revival of different businesses at multiple locations. Would it be legally incorrect, since these designations (CKO, CIO - Chief Information Officer, etc.) have come into usage quite recently? Seeking views and advice.

Let the person concerned enter into the agreement with his client as a "Business Consultant."

Additional Observations

A person who is over 60 years old wants to provide consulting services on the "revival of different businesses at multiple locations." His stature could be equivalent to a CKO or CIO, yet he does not know in what capacity he should enter into the agreement with the client. Nothing is more paradoxical than this. The query is hardly compatible with his stature and invisibly raises doubt about his capability to provide consulting services. It appears that the client is gullible and could not read between the lines of the profile of this consultant.

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

Dinesh, there are no doubts regarding capability on either side. The query is because of the age factor, as a norm, 60 years being the retirement age. CEO, etc., are organizational employee designations. Therefore, what is the appropriate consultant designation.

Dear COLRK,

I believe the individual likely held a very senior position, most probably that of CEO. Now, following his retirement, the company wishes to keep him on board and assign him an impressive title. Unfortunately, titles like CKO or CIO, similar to that of CEO, cannot be awarded to a consultant, as they are typically viewed as "outsiders." One possible title for him could be Chief Consultant (I&K).

Hope this suggestion proves helpful.

To start on a lighter note, let me begin with a Shakespearean quote:

"What is in a name? A rose is a rose."

"Call by any name, a rose smells the same."

The consultant could have a name like PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT (and not "principle" as mentioned at the start; I think it is just an oversight). You are right; the designation of a consultant does not begin with a prefix CHIEF. There may not be any written rule, yet it is not observed in practice. If you are going to call him a Chief Consultant (just to place him above the ordinary), please make sure that there are other consultants (who would not object to whatever designation you decide) who would get paid less! Hospitals give designations such as "consultant," "senior consultant," etc. If CHIEF is not permissible, perhaps SENIOR might be acceptable, a good second choice after Business Consultant.

Incidentally, this is coming to you from a 'Senior Member' who is also a "Consultant"!

Regards, V.Raghunathan