Read the given information carefully and answer the question that follows.

Eight professionals hold different positions, namely Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vice President (VP), Senior Director (SD), Director (Dir), Senior Manager (SM), Manager (Mgr), and Officer (Off) in an organization. The hierarchy of their seniority is in the same sequence as listed, where CEO represents the highest rank and Officer represents the lowest rank.

Exactly two ranks separate A and B, where B holds a position junior to Director. C is immediately junior to E and immediately senior to D. The number of individuals ranking senior to E is equal to the number of individuals ranking junior to F. G ranks junior to H, and H does not hold the rank of CEO.

Which of the following matches is correct?

The correct option is Manager - B.

Let us determine the positions of all eight professionals step-by-step according to the given conditions.

The hierarchy of positions from highest (rank 1) to lowest (rank 8) is as follows:

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

2. Chief Operating Officer (COO)

3. Vice President (VP)

4. Senior Director (SD)

5. Director (Dir)

6. Senior Manager (SM)

7. Manager (Mgr)

8. Officer (Off)

Step 1: Determine the positions of A and B.

It is given that B holds a position junior to Director (Dir). Therefore, B can be Senior Manager (SM), Manager (Mgr), or Officer (Off).

Exactly two ranks separate A and B.

If B is Senior Manager (SM, rank 6), A would be Vice President (VP, rank 3).

If B is Manager (Mgr, rank 7), A would be Senior Director (SD, rank 4).

If B is Officer (Off, rank 8), A would be Director (Dir, rank 5).

Step 2: Place the block of E, C, and D.

It is given that C is immediately junior to E and immediately senior to D. This means E, C, and D occupy three consecutive ranks in that order (E then C then D).

Step 3: Analyze the positions using the condition between E and F.

The number of individuals ranking senior to E is equal to the number of individuals ranking junior to F.

Let us test the possible cases:

If B is Manager (Mgr, rank 7) and A is Senior Director (SD, rank 4):

The available ranks for the consecutive block E, C, D are ranks 1, 2, 3 (CEO, COO, VP).

So, E = CEO (rank 1), C = COO (rank 2), D = VP (rank 3).

Since E is senior-most (0 individuals senior to E), F must be junior-most (0 individuals junior to F), which means F = Officer (Off, rank 8).

Now, the remaining positions are rank 5 (Director) and rank 6 (Senior Manager), to be filled by G and H.

It is given that G ranks junior to H, and H is not CEO (H = Director, G = Senior Manager).

Let us check the complete arrangement derived:

1. CEO: E

2. COO: C

3. VP: D

4. SD: A

5. Dir: H

6. SM: G

7. Mgr: B

8. Off: F

All given conditions are fully satisfied in this arrangement:

- B (Mgr) is junior to Director (Dir).

- Exactly two ranks separate A (SD, rank 4) and B (Mgr, rank 7).

- C is immediately junior to E and senior to D (E, C, D at ranks 1, 2, 3).

- Senior to E = 0, Junior to F = 0 (E at rank 1, F at rank 8).

- G (rank 6) is junior to H (rank 5), and H is not CEO.

Step 4: Verify the given options.

- CEO - C: Incorrect (CEO is E, C is COO)

- Senior Director - F: Incorrect (Senior Director is A)

- Director - D: Incorrect (Director is H)

- Manager - B: Correct (B holds the rank of Manager)