>perl -wMstrict -le
"my $str = 'The CEO of WidgeCo resigned today.';
 ;;
 $str =~ m{ (?<BIGWIG> chairman | president | ceo ) }xmsi;
 ;;
 if (exists $+{BIGWIG}) {
   print qq{a $+{BIGWIG} was mentioned};
   }
"
a CEO was mentioned