"From Engine Room to Board Room" – the unique skillset of the Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) role is a notoriously difficult position, both to recruit for and to perform well in. What makes a successful COO? And why are good COO candidates so hard to find?

Operational Excellence and Strategic Vision

As the name suggests, the Chief Operating Officer oversees the day to day operations of the company. But within that broad definition, there are enormous variations in the job specification, depending on factors such as company size and industry sector. The job responsibilities may be quite fluid, in response to shifting corporate challenges and priorities, requiring the job holder to be flexible and adaptable. But above all the COO must be comfortable dealing with routine operational matters at one moment and with Board level strategic issues at the next.

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