[sib]

A subordinate in the context of a business org structure means someone who reports up into him, whether directly or indirectly. If the person reports up into someone who is his peer, say, the VP of Finance or VP of Marketing, then you would not refer to the person as his subordinate. And, in most (US) companies, a relationship between him and such a person in a different section of the company would not be considered problematic or against policy.

[chickenfries]

I see, so most employees in Product would be his subordinate but not someone in a different organization, and this is typically the line at which American coorporations consider a relationship problematic? Thanks for the clarification.

[sib]

Yeah, only a small number of co's would prohibit relationships altogether. It's pretty common to prohibit it in ones where there is a (direct or indirect) reporting relationship.