What Does a COO Do?

In fast-moving businesses, efficient execution is just as important as having a great strategy. That’s where the Chief Operating Officer, or COO, comes in. Often considered the right hand of the CEO, the COO plays a vital role in translating vision into action and keeping the company running smoothly. But what exactly does a COO do, and how do they fit into the wider executive leadership team? 

Whether you’re considering your next move into operational leadership, or hiring for a senior executive role, here's all you need to know about a COO's role and responsibilities. 
 

What is a COO? 

A Chief Operating Officer (COO) is typically the second-highest executive in a company, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring that business processes run efficiently. While the CEO focuses on high-level strategy and vision, the COO turns those ideas into action. 

In essence, the COO is the company’s internal driver, ensuring teams, systems, and resources are aligned to deliver outcomes. 
 

What does a COO actually do? 

The scope of the COO role can vary depending on the company’s size, sector, and stage of growth. However, common responsibilities include: 

• Managing core business operations and processes 
• Leading internal departments such as HR, IT, production, or logistics 
• Executing company strategy set by the CEO and board 
• Optimising efficiency and reducing operational risk 
• Overseeing budgets, KPIs, and resource allocation 
• Leading interdisciplinary projects and change initiatives 

 
In smaller businesses, the COO might be hands-on in several areas. In larger firms, they’ll typically manage department heads and focus on high-level performance and delivery. 
 

How does a COO differ from a CEO? 

While both roles sit at the top of the organisation, their focus is different: 

• The CEO sets the long-term vision, direction, and external strategy 
• The COO manages internal operations and ensures the business is executing effectively 

 The COO is often seen as the CEO’s right-hand partner - turning strategy into action. 
 

Who does the COO report to? 

The COO typically reports directly to the CEO, though they may also have accountability to the board, particularly in operational matters or when representing delivery outcomes. 

This reporting structure reflects the working relationship between the CEO and COO. 
 

Is a COO necessary in every business? 

Not always. In smaller or early-stage companies, the CEO often handles both strategic and operational roles. As a business grows and becomes more complex, hiring a COO becomes essential to manage scale, process, and performance across teams. 

Companies often bring in a COO when they reach a point of expansion, need to improve efficiency or want to free up the CEO to focus on external growth. 
 

What skills make a great COO? 

A successful COO blends leadership with precision. Key skills include: 

• Operational and commercial acumen 
• Leadership and team development 
• Strong problem-solving and systems thinking 
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration 
• Change management and delivery focus 

The COO must be comfortable with complexity, able to spot inefficiencies, and confident leading through transformation.  
 

Is there a typical background for a COO? 

COOs come from diverse career paths, depending on industry and company needs. Common backgrounds include: 

• Operations and supply chain management 
• Finance or engineering 
• Project or programme delivery 
• Business consulting or transformation roles 

Many COOs have MBAs or advanced business degrees, but experience in leading teams, managing performance, and delivering outcomes is often more important than academic credentials alone. 
 

Can a COO become a CEO? 

Absolutely. In fact, many CEOs were previously COOs. The role provides excellent preparation for top leadership, offering visibility across the organisation and a deep understanding of what drives success. 
 

Where can I find a COO role? 

Eden Scott is proud to support growing organisations across Scotland and beyond with C-suite and senior leadership recruitment. If you’re an experienced operational leader or ready to take the next step in your executive career, we’d love to hear from you. 

View all our live executive management roles. If you’re interested in being considered for future opportunities, we also encourage senior candidates to submit your CV or reach out to our executive search consultants directly. 
 

Executive Search with Eden Scott 

At Eden Scott, we specialise in placing senior talent across a range of industries through our Executive Search service.

Our consultants work closely with businesses to identify, engage, and appoint experienced operational leaders who can drive performance and scale effectively. We work with clients to place impactful COOs is that bring structure and results.