head of the National Trust also holds the title. United States This term is used in international organisations and government departments, although this sort of position is more commonly called an "executive director" or "managing director" in the United States. Typically, the chief administrative officer of an opera company in the US holds the title of "General Director". Such was the case with singer and conductor Plácido Domingo, who formerly functioned in that capacity for the Los Angeles Opera, as he had previously for the Washington National Opera. In another prominent example, Speight Jenkins served as the general director of the Seattle Opera for over three decades. General directors are often responsible for artistic decisions, such as which operas to perform and which singers to hire, in addition to financial matters. The Metropolitan Opera is one of the few exceptions among US opera houses; the head of its administration is known as a "general manager" rather than a general director. References . Corporate governance Management occupations Positions of authority Titles