What a chief operating officer (COO) does
A chief operating officer turns the company's plan into reliable daily execution. Depending on the business, that can mean leading production, supply chain, customer service, technology delivery and sometimes human resources, while setting the processes and measures that let the organization grow without breaking. In founder-led companies, the COO is often the person who takes operational load off the founder. After an acquisition, they may lead the work of bringing two operations together.
Because a COO works so closely with the CEO, chemistry matters as much as experience, and the search usually needs to stay quiet. Senior staff may assume the role should be theirs, and announcing a search too early can unsettle the team. Finch's retained, confidential approach lets us reach operators who are not job hunting and present your opportunity without naming you. We assess each candidate's operating record, how they lead managers and how well their working style complements your CEO.
Typical responsibilities
- Translate company strategy into operating plans, budgets and priorities
- Lead heads of operations, supply chain, customer service and other operating functions
- Design processes, systems and performance measures that support growth
- Lead integration work after acquisitions or major restructuring
- Manage operational risk, quality and health and safety performance
- Act as the CEO's partner and, where agreed, a potential successor
Qualifications and credentials
- Senior operations leadership in a company of similar scale and complexity
- Experience growing or restructuring operations, not only maintaining them
- Process improvement training such as Lean or Six Sigma is common in manufacturing and logistics settings
- An engineering, business or operations background; some COOs hold an MBA or a P.Eng. licence through PEO
- Strong financial literacy and experience owning operating budgets
Who hires a chief operating officer (COO)
- Founder-led companies scaling past the founder's direct reach
- Manufacturers, distributors and logistics companies
- Private equity-backed businesses after an acquisition
- Multi-site health care, service and hospitality organizations
- Technology companies moving from start-up to established operations
Where we recruit chief operating officer (COO) candidates
We fill chief operating officer (COO) roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- The operations they led, the changes they made and the results they can describe
- How they work alongside a CEO or founder, explored through detailed examples
- Leadership of senior managers and how they handle underperformance
- Experience with integrations, expansions or turnarounds relevant to your plans
- Discreet references from former CEOs, board members and direct reports
Interview questions to ask
- What did you take off your last CEO's plate, and how did you earn the authority to do it?
- Describe an operation that was struggling when you arrived. What did you change in your first six months?
- How do you decide which problems you solve yourself and which you hand to your team?