Many people actually believe that the position of a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is the highest position in an organization, but this is not always so. Likewise, you often hear of CEO in several companies, but you don't always hear of chairman. Most owners of organizations are mostly referred to as the Chief Executive Officer or CEO, but you need to understand that the position of a chairman is still more than that of the CEO. A CEO actually has influence or authority over every worker, officers, operatives, and other executives.
But in an organization where there is a CEO, the owner of the organization most likely assumes the position of a chairman. A good example of this is the case of Microsoft. Bill Gates is the chairman, while Steve Ballmer is the Chief Executive Officer; and we all know that Bill Gates is the owner of Microsoft. The CEO is accountable to the chairman and probably the board of directors, depending on the organization.