Chief operating officer

One of the highest-ranking executive jobs in a corporation, the chief operating officer (COO), sometimes referred to as the chief operations officer (COO), is a member of the "C-suite." The chief operating officer (COO) is often the second-in-command in a company, particularly if the highest-ranking executive is the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO). The chief operating officer (COO) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm and its office building, and he or she reports regularly to the company's highest-ranking executive—typically the chief executive officer (CEO).

In contrast to other C-suite jobs, which are often described in terms of generally specified tasks across most organisations, a COO's job is typically defined in terms of the particular CEO with whom they work, due to the strong working connection between these two persons.

Power and responsibility hierarchies differ in government and commercial regimes based on the style and demands of the leader and CEO, and the appointment of a chief operating officer is analogous to the selection of a vice president or chief of staff in the United States. As a result, the COO function matches individual expectations and evolves in response to changes in leadership teams.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) role is popular in companies that are heavily dependent on operations, such as the aviation and automobile sectors.