Affiliates: How does the Party hierarchy work?

[otctrader]

For everyone's reading pleasure, could a reputable affiliate please explain the Party chain of command? In its most simplistic form I assume it's:

Affiliate ---> Affiliate Manager ---> Marketing Execs

Who exactly are these affiliate managers, and why does it appear they give conflicting stories? Are they commissioned salespeople?

And what about these so-called "mega affiliates" that claim to have contacts "above" the affiliate department - BS or legit?

Thanks, just curious