Definition

1. Noun:
   • A senior corporate executive: A chief operating officer (COO) is a high-ranking corporate executive who is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of a company.
   • The head of operations: The COO typically reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and to the board of directors, overseeing the firm's core business operations.

Usage

• The term "chief operating officer" is a formal job title, always capitalized when referring to a specific person's title (e.g., Chief Operating Officer Jane Doe).
• It is commonly abbreviated as COO.
• The COO is usually second in command within a corporation's hierarchy, focusing on implementing the company's business plan according to the CEO's vision.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The board appointed a new chief operating officer to streamline production.
  • As Chief Operating Officer, her primary duty is to oversee all daily operations.
  • The CEO and the chief operating officer work closely to set the company's strategic direction.

Advanced Usage

• "to serve as chief operating officer": To hold the position and perform its duties.
  • She served as chief operating officer for five years before becoming CEO.
• In corporate governance, the COO is often seen as the key executor of strategy, translating high-level goals into operational reality.

Variants and Related Words

• COO (n): The standard abbreviation for chief operating officer.
  • The COO will present the quarterly operational report.
• Operations Officer (n): A similar but often less senior title.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (n): The highest-ranking executive, to whom the COO usually reports.

Synonyms

• Head of Operations: A less formal term for the role.
• Operations Director: A similar title, though sometimes used in different corporate structures.

Related Phrases

• Second-in-command: A phrase often used to describe the COO's position in the corporate hierarchy relative to the CEO.
  • The COO is widely considered the company's second-in-command.
• Report to the board: A key function of the role, as indicated in the reference definition.
  • The chief operating officer must report to the board on all major operational issues.

Noun

1. the corporate executive responsible for the operations of the firm; reports to a board of directors; may appoint other managers (including a president)