As the President's Secretary he is the top civil servant in the country and de facto head of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service.

By 1955 Angelo La Barbera had become the vice-boss and de facto head of the Palermo Centro cosca.

Alex's great-uncle was the chief financial analyst and de facto head of the company, a lifelong bachelor and a celibate, slow, deliberate, and precise in thought and deed.

He joined Clark's office in 1885 and worked his way up to become chief assistant and de facto head of the agency during the last few years of Clark's life.

The term de facto head of state, though having no constitutional status, has been used informally in Commonwealth realms to describe the role of a Governor General.

Mr. Crawford has been de facto head of the board since his return to active leadership last May.

In the latter office Pobedonostsev was de facto head of the Russian Orthodox Church, just the year before the Tsar was assassinated.

He is accusing the President's top security adviser and de facto head of the Peruvian intelligence network, Vladimiro Montesinos, of operating an execution squad of 20 to 25 officers.

Between 27 and 29 July 1985, Olara-Okello was Chairman of the Military Council, and de facto head of state.

During the 27-year reign of the distracted dilletante King José I, Pombal was chief minister and de facto head of state.