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The Chief Operating Officer, or Chief Operations Officer (COO), plays a vital role and holds the executive job responsibility of managing the
day-to-day activities of the organisation.
We understand the COO can be a very different person depending on the organisation they work for as well as their reporting structure (who they report to including the CEO or Executive Chair). If the COO role is defined largely in relation to the Chair or CEO they work with, and no two business leaders (Chair or CEO) are exactly alike, we therefore understand that this role above all others requires a clear definition to identify and attract the best and most appropriate executive talent.
Elevating Operations Leadership for High-Impact Results
The role of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Operations Director is a linchpin in any organisation. It bridges strategy and execution, ensuring that vision isn’t just aspirational but operationally realised. At Wyman Bain, we excel at securing operations leaders who carry forward organisational ambition, turning complexity into clarity, and potential into performance.
Why Operations Leadership Must Be Tailored?
No two COOs look the same. Their remit, reporting lines, authority, and influence will differ greatly depending on:
- Ownership and governance structure (private equity, family-owned, listed)
- Organisational maturity (start-up, scale-up, mature enterprise)
- Sector dynamics and regulatory environments
- Leadership style of the CEO / Board
- Depth of functional responsibilities (supply chain, digital, HR, transformation)
We understand these nuances. That’s why our first step is always to define the role with precision, aligning around accountability, boundaries, success metrics, and leadership style before we begin candidate outreach.
The
Operational
Leader 👉
We
Seek
In our search for world-class operations executives, we look beyond generic descriptors and instead search for those who demonstrate:
- Strategic-operational fluency — the ability to see the “big picture” while navigating day-to-day complexity
- Transformative track record — leading process redesign, digital adoption, and continuous improvement
- Cross-functional influence — collaborating equally across finance, HR, IT, supply chain, and customer-facing teams
- Scalability mindset — creating systems, teams, and processes that can grow and adapt
- Executive presence and stakeholder gravitas — communicating with authority at board level, while grounding decisions in operational reality
Our Methodology: From Brief to Impact
1. Discovery & Diagnostic
We begin by partnering closely with you — the board, CEO, or hiring committee — to fully understand your strategic objectives, operational pressures, culture, and key stakeholder expectations.
2. Role Architecture & Success Profile
With insight in hand, we craft a tailored role brief: defining core accountabilities, reporting lines, guiding principles, key performance indicators (KPIs), and stakeholder relationships.
3. Market Mapping & Talent Research
Leveraging our deep networks and proprietary research, we identify, engage and screen a diverse set of candidates — both those actively seeking a new role and those who may be passive but high-potential.
4. Assessment & Shortlist
Candidates are assessed not only for operational competence, but leadership style, adaptability, cultural fit, and long-term growth trajectories. We present a rigorously curated shortlist with insight-backed candidate profiles.
5. Selection, Negotiation & Onboarding Support
We partner with you through interview planning, negotiation, and integration. Ensuring that the transition is smooth, expectations are aligned, and the new operations leader steps into momentum from day one.
COOs and their role
Typically, they are the most senior member of the executive team monitoring the daily operations of the company and reporting to the Board of Directors, therefore we focus on individuals who have experience managing a wide range of activities including HR, finance and communications, as well as the ability to collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders.
Why Clients Choose Wyman Bain?
- Boutique-level attention. Every search is partner-led, with no delegation of key decisions.
- Sector-crossing expertise. Experience placing operations executives in diverse industries, from logistics to tech, manufacturing to services.
- Discretion & confidence. Maintaining confidentiality for both clients and candidates is essential in senior-level search.
- Long-term perspective. We aim not just to place leaders, but to help them thrive, benefiting your organisation over years, not just months.
Contact Us
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