Designation of consultant such as "principle consultant and chief knowledge officer"?

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

Dear Col RK,

Companies hire consultants because they have expertise of some field. Many times their role is advisory and they may not have day to day job. That is why consultants visit their client on case to case basis. In certain cases consultants make visit every week, month etc.

Employer-employee relationship is essential relationship. In contrast, company's relationship with the consultant could be called as non-essential or extraneous. Therefore, question of allotting some designation does arise. Designations are given to the employees and not to the consultant. Designation of "Officer" is given to the paid employee and not to the consultants.

Therefore, when company enters into agreement with the consultant, the agreement may mention that person as "Consultant" or "Principal consultant". Very specific examples are "ISO Consultant", "Procurement Consultant", "Showroom Consultant" and so on. Consultants are service providers. To measure their performance, how the services will be measured can defined while framing the contract agreement. This brings clarity and avoids confusion at later stage.

Thanks,

Thanks Dinesh, in the instant case individual is above 60 yrs, so cannot be 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.

Dear Col RK,
This is reply to your post No 3. Let the person concerned enter into the agreement with his client as "Business Consultant".
Additional observations: - A person is more than 60 years, wanted to provide consulting services on "revival of different Businesses at multiple locations", his stature could be equivalent to CKO or CIO yet does not know the in what capacity he should enter into the agreement with the client. Nothing is paradoxical than this. The query is hardly compatible with his stature and invisibly raises doubt on his capability to provide the consulting services. It appears that the client is gullible and could not read between the lies of the profile of this consultant.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

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

Dear COLRK,
I think the person must have been holding a very senior position, most likely that of CEO.
Now after his retirement, the Company wants to retain him and give him a good-sounding designation.
Unfortunately, like CEO the CKO or CIO designation can not be given to a Consultant, who is generally considered to be an "Outsider".
He can be called Chief Consultant (I&K)...
Hope it helps.

Dear Col RK,
To start on a lighter note, let me begin with a Shakespearean quote,
1.0 "What is in a name?........ A rose is a rose...."
2.0 'Call by any name rose smells the same.'
The consultant could have a name PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
( and not principle as mentioned at the start ; I think it is just a oversight)
You are right ; designation of a consultant does not begin with a prefix CHIEF...
There may not be any written rule and 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 that you decide) who would get paid less !
Hospitals give designation 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" !!
V.Raghunathan