A chief operating officer (COO) is a senior executive responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of a company. The COO normally reports directly to the CEO and is considered second in the chain of command. Their role is to lead the execution of strategies developed by the senior management team, manage large companies, and ensure teams work towards business objectives. A COO is also known as a Director of Operations and is the CEO's second in command.
They take the CEO's vision for the company and turn it into an executable business plan. The need for an operations manager stems from different motivations, so the definition of an operations manager varies by organization. Operations managers, by virtue of their inherent talents and organizational position, are highly visible and powerful. They are responsible for ensuring all other functions of a company focus on enabling the operations function to perform at its optimal level.
Alternative positions for the COO include chief operating officer, chief operating officer and chief operating officer. A director of operations position requires many years of experience in various facets of a company's operations. When Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle, and its chief operating officer, Ray Lane, separated in 2000, it highlighted the importance of this role. A chief operating officer is an essential part of any organization's executive team. They are responsible for managing the day-to-day administration and operation of a company, as well as ensuring teams work towards business objectives.
It's simply a concession to the complexity and scope of the current CEO's work, with his numerous external commitments.
