The Owners & Operators of a Corporation

The shareholders of the corporation are the "owners" of the corporation, the investors who receive ownership in the corporation in return for money or assets they invest. The shareholders elect a board of directors, the "operators" of the corporation, who have overall responsibility for the business of the corporation. The board in turn elects the officers of the corporation (president, vice president, secretary, and chief financial officer typically). The officers handle the day-to-day affairs of the corporation.