What Does a VP of Product and Technology Do?

What does a VP ​of product and technology do? Read on to learn more.

What Is VP of Product and Technology?

A VP of product and technology is a senior-level executive who manages the product development and technology teams of a company. 

The VP of product and technology works closely with the CEO, CTO, board of directors, other VPs, and the rest of the company’s leadership team. So, they can plan for future products.

The VP of product and technology (VPPT) typically reports to the CTO (chief technology officer), who has overall responsibility for setting development goals for the company. 

The VPPT also reports to the CEO (chief executive officer) but is not part of the CEO’s direct management team. 

Instead, he or she works with other VPs, including the VP of sales, VP of marketing, VP of finance, and VP of operations. 

VP of Product and Technology Roles and Responsibilities

The VPPT often leads the product development team, but not always. Sometimes the VP of sales leads the product team if the company’s products are based on sales leads. 

However, some VPPTs lead both product development and sales. 

Companies with these dual-reporting VPPTs include Lenovo, SAP, Yahoo!, and Microsoft. 

The responsibilities of a VP of product and technology depend on the company’s size and business model. 

For example, at small companies with only one product, the VPPT may also be CEO. This is common in technology startups. 

At larger companies that sell multiple products or services, the VPPT is often part of a larger executive team that includes other VPs (see above). 

At large companies, the VPPT usually reports to the CTO or COO (chief operating officer). However, at mid-sized companies with multiple products or services, the VPPT may report directly to the CEO or COO. 

At large companies with hundreds or thousands of employees, the VPPT interacts with many other leaders in addition to reporting to senior management. 

These include middle managers across all departments, functional managers in engineering and research & development (R&D), operational managers in manufacturing and distribution, and HR managers who oversee recruitment and training. 

Middle managers report to executive leaders throughout an organization’s structure. So they have a lot of influence over how projects are managed across different departments. 

What does a day of a VP of Product and Technology look like?

Normally, a vice president of product and technology starts his day by meeting with the product team. 

They usually discuss the status of current projects and new product ideas. The VPPT sets the overall direction for the product team, including deciding which projects to work on next. 

The VPPT also meets with the technology team, since products are often based on new technologies. These discussions are important because they help the VPPT make decisions about future products. 

They also help him or she keep up with emerging technologies before competitors do. 

After meetings, the VPPT schedules one-on-one meetings with individual members of both teams. These meetings are an opportunity for individual members to discuss their work directly with the VPPT. 

Summary

A VP of product and technology is a senior-level executive who manages the product development and technology teams of a company. 

To learn more about product management and strategies, browse our blog.