Still, the CEO is the one who actually gave the raise. Me? I would go to the CEO directly.
Would you really? I worked for many years in the North American HQ of an international airline, with offices all over the world. The CEO was in Paris. He didn't know me and were I to approach him for a raise, odds were good I would be fired for impertinence. However, my boss and his boss and those above him took note of the contributions I brought, locally, to the world body of this organization. They are the ones who made the local decisions, not the CEO. (BTW - this was my dream job. Find the job you most want to do and you never work again. It was 4 hour r/t daily commute to work each and every day but I loved my job and gave 100%. It was noticed and recognized.)