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CEO and Executive Email Signature Templates

A CEO's email signature should carry your name, your title, the company, one number that reaches you or your office, and the company's website. Leave out your personal mobile and anything you'd have to update every quarter. It stands for the company, so it should look like the signature everyone else there sends.

Below are four templates filled in for a founder and CEO, each with its own copy-paste HTML. They render live on this page. Pick the one closest to the signature your team already sends, so yours matches theirs.

Create your signatureBrowse the templates

Copy-paste HTML · Works in Gmail, Outlook and Apple Mail · No sign-up needed

Copy-paste HTML

Four templates, with copy-paste HTML

These are real HTML tables. Copy one and paste it straight into Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail, and it renders reliably in all three. They’re free to use, with no sign-up and no attribution required.

Where a template has a social row, it shows all four networks so you can see how the row sits. Every part is optional in the Editor, and the checklist below covers what’s worth keeping for this role.

Charter

Professional
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500" style="width:500px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#252b2d;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/logos/ceo-8fe4636392.png" alt="Fernway logo" width="43" height="43" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:43px;height:43px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#64716f;"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="500" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500" style="width:500px;"><tr><td width="500" style="width:500px;border-top:1px solid #1b2f4b;font-size:0;line-height:0;">&nbsp;</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" width="236" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-right:28px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="236" style="width:236px;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:19px;line-height:24px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;">Daniel Haddad</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Co-founder and CEO</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#1b2f4b;">Fernway</span></td></tr></table></td><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;"><a href="mailto:daniel@fernway.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">daniel@fernway.com</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:5125550136" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">(512) 555-0136</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#1b2f4b;"><a href="https://fernway.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#1b2f4b;">fernway.com</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:9px;line-height:13px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #dfe2e5;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">This email and any attachments are confidential and intended only for the named recipient. If it reached you by mistake, please let the sender know and delete it.</span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

Monogram

Essential
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440" style="width:440px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#252b2d;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-bottom:19px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:24px;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/logos/ceo-8fe4636392.png" alt="Fernway logo" width="39" height="39" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:39px;height:39px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#64716f;"></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-left:24px;border-left:2px solid #44584d;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#44584d;">Fernway</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:22px;line-height:28px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;">Daniel Haddad</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Co-founder and CEO</span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="bottom" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:bottom;padding-bottom:19px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="bottom" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:bottom;padding-right:25px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;"><a href="mailto:daniel@fernway.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">daniel@fernway.com</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:5125550136" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">(512) 555-0136</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#44584d;"><a href="https://fernway.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#44584d;">fernway.com</a></span></td></tr></table></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px;"><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/danielhaddad" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/linkedin?c=44584d&amp;h=1" alt="LinkedIn" width="20" height="20" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:20px;height:20px;"></a></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px;"><a href="https://instagram.com/fernwayhq" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/instagram?c=44584d&amp;h=1" alt="Instagram" width="20" height="20" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:20px;height:20px;"></a></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px;"><a href="https://x.com/danielhaddad" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/x?c=44584d&amp;h=1" alt="X" width="20" height="20" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:20px;height:20px;"></a></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;"><a href="https://facebook.com/fernwayhq" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/facebook?c=44584d&amp;h=1" alt="Facebook" width="20" height="20" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:20px;height:20px;"></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="440" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440" style="width:440px;"><tr><td width="440" style="width:440px;border-top:1px solid #44584d;font-size:0;line-height:0;">&nbsp;</td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

Meridian

Essential
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440" style="width:440px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#252b2d;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-bottom:16px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:18px;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/faces/ceo-987dc36f8c.jpg" alt="Daniel Haddad" width="68" height="68" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:68px;height:68px;border-radius:34px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#64716f;"></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:23px;line-height:29px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;">Daniel Haddad</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Co-founder and CEO</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#27685e;">Fernway</span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="440" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:16px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440" style="width:440px;"><tr><td width="440" style="width:440px;border-top:1px solid #27685e;font-size:0;line-height:0;">&nbsp;</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-top:3px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:32px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;"><a href="mailto:daniel@fernway.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">daniel@fernway.com</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:5125550136" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">(512) 555-0136</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#27685e;"><a href="https://fernway.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#27685e;">fernway.com</a></span></td></tr></table></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:12px;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/logos/ceo-8fe4636392.png" alt="Fernway logo" width="32" height="32" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:32px;height:32px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#64716f;"></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px;"><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/danielhaddad" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/linkedin?c=27685e&amp;t=round" alt="LinkedIn" width="22" height="22" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:22px;height:22px;"></a></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px;"><a href="https://instagram.com/fernwayhq" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/instagram?c=27685e&amp;t=round" alt="Instagram" width="22" height="22" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:22px;height:22px;"></a></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px;"><a href="https://x.com/danielhaddad" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/x?c=27685e&amp;t=round" alt="X" width="22" height="22" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:22px;height:22px;"></a></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;"><a href="https://facebook.com/fernwayhq" style="text-decoration:none;color:inherit;"><img src="https://esigna.app/api/signature-icons/facebook?c=27685e&amp;t=round" alt="Facebook" width="22" height="22" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:22px;height:22px;"></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

Brief

Essential
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="360" style="width:360px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#252b2d;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-left:12px;border-left:2px solid #56606b;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="bottom" style="font-size:0;line-height:16px;vertical-align:bottom;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:bottom;font-size:14px;line-height:19px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;color:#252b2d;">Daniel Haddad</span><span style="font-size:8px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:bottom;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#64716f;">Co-founder and CEO</span><span style="font-size:8px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:bottom;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;color:#56606b;">Fernway</span></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:16px;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#252b2d;"><a href="mailto:daniel@fernway.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">daniel@fernway.com</a></span><span style="font-size:14px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#252b2d;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:5125550136" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">(512) 555-0136</a></span></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

What to include

What to include in a CEO email signature

Most signatures carry the same basic fields, so what matters is the order and what you leave out. These are the decisions specific to this role.

  1. Your title, the way the company writes it

    CEO, Chief Executive Officer, Co-founder and CEO: use the form your company already uses on its site and in its press releases. Investors, journalists and candidates read the title to work out who decides. At a young company, Co-founder adds useful history; at a larger one, it can go.

  2. The company's signature, with your name in it

    If your team has a standard signature, use it with your own details in it. A chief executive with a custom design next to forty matching ones looks like the one person the brand doesn't apply to. Put your details into it and leave the layout as it is, so nobody has to explain why yours looks different.

  3. No personal mobile in a signature that goes everywhere

    Your email gets forwarded to people you never wrote to, and a cell number in the signature travels with every copy. Give the office line or your assistant's. When someone needs your mobile, put it in the body of that one email, where it reaches only them.

  4. A line for your assistant, if you have one

    A line like "Scheduling: Maya Lin, maya@fernway.com" tells people where meeting requests go before they write back to you asking for times. It saves a round trip on every request, and it keeps your calendar with the person who runs it.

  5. A short version for replies

    Most of a chief executive's email is replies, often typed on a phone. A two line signature with your name, title and company keeps threads readable, while the full version goes on first messages. Brief, the last template above, is built for exactly that.

Examples

CEO email signature examples

Here is that advice filled in for four kinds of chief executive, from a startup founder to the head of a family business, and the short version for replies. Each one is four lines or fewer, so it works in any of the templates above or as plain text.

  • Startup founder

    Daniel HaddadCo-founder and CEO, Fernwayfernway.com | (512) 555-0136

    Three lines are enough at a company this size. Co-founder belongs at a company this young, since investors and early hires care who built it. The number is the office line, so someone on the team answers when Daniel can't.

  • CEO with an assistant

    Sarah KimChief Executive Officer, Alderline HealthScheduling: Tom Alvarez, tom.alvarez@alderlinehealth.com(617) 555-0190

    The scheduling line sends meeting requests to Tom, who keeps Sarah's calendar, and the number is Tom's desk line, so a call about a meeting reaches the person who can book it.

  • Head of a family business

    Robert ManciniPresident and CEO, Mancini Brothers Construction(716) 555-0115 | mancinibrothers.com

    President and CEO is common at family and privately held firms, and customers there often know the owner by name. One number and the company site are all they need.

  • Interim CEO

    Priscilla OkoyeInterim CEO, Lantern Labslanternlabs.com

    Interim is part of the title, and leaving it out misleads partners who'll find out at the next board announcement. Say it plainly and update the line the day the role changes.

  • The reply version

    Daniel HaddadCEO, Fernway

    For the fourth reply in a thread, this is enough. Everyone on it has the full signature from the first message, and two lines keep the thread readable on a phone.

Install

How to add your signature

Copy the HTML above, then paste it into your email app's signature settings.

  • Gmail

    1. Copy the HTML for the template you want.
    2. In Gmail on the web, open Settings (the gear), then See all settings.
    3. On the General tab, scroll to Signature, choose Create new, name it and choose Create.
    4. Click into the signature box and paste (⌘V or Ctrl+V).
    5. Set it as the default for new emails and replies, then choose Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
    Full Gmail guide

  • Outlook

    1. Copy the HTML for the template you want.
    2. New Outlook and Outlook on the web: Settings → Accounts → Signatures.
    3. Choose Add signature, name it and paste into the box.
    4. Tick the boxes to use it for new messages and for replies and forwards, then Save.
    5. Classic Outlook for Windows: File → Options → Mail → Signatures → New, paste, set the defaults, OK.
    Full Outlook guide

  • Apple Mail

    1. Copy the HTML for the template you want.
    2. In Mail on your Mac, open Mail → Settings → Signatures.
    3. Select your account on the left, then choose + below the middle column and name it.
    4. Untick “Always match my default message font”, then paste into the right-hand column.
    5. Pick it in the Choose Signature menu so new messages include it.
    Full Apple Mail guide

FAQ

CEO email signature questions

What should a CEO put in an email signature?

Your name, your title as the company writes it, the company, one phone number that reaches you or your office, and the company website. Add a scheduling line if an assistant manages your calendar. Leave out your personal mobile, quotes and a list of awards, which age quickly and say less than the company's name does.

Should a CEO include a phone number in their email signature?

Yes, as long as it's the office line or your assistant's. Your signature goes out on every email and gets forwarded to people you've never met, so your cell stays out of it. When someone needs your mobile, give it to them in the body of that email, where it stays with them.

Should I write CEO or Chief Executive Officer?

Either works, as long as it matches the rest of the company. Use the form on your website, your LinkedIn and your press releases, so a reader who looks you up sees one title. CEO is shorter and fits a two line reply signature better, which is why many executives use it there.

Should a CEO have a different email signature from the rest of the company?

No. Use the company's standard layout with your own details, and add only what your role needs, such as a scheduling line. A chief executive's signature that doesn't match the team's reads like the brand guidelines apply to everyone else, and it's one more design for someone to maintain.

Should a CEO put a photo in their email signature?

Follow the company's signature. If everyone's has a photo, yours should too. At a young company, where you're the one writing to investors, customers and candidates, a small headshot helps people put a face to the name before a first call. A larger company's signatures usually carry the logo instead.

How do I add my assistant to my email signature?

Add one line under your contact details: "Scheduling: Maya Lin, maya@fernway.com". Put the assistant's email, not a phone number, unless they take calls for you. It tells people where to send meeting requests, so they stop replying to you to ask for times and your calendar stays with the person who runs it.

Make it yours

Make one of these your signature.

Swap Daniel Haddad’s details for your own, add your headshot or company logo, and put it on every email you send. It’s free.

Create your signatureCopy the HTML instead

Other signature templates

4 templates and advice for each role.