• The chief operating officer (COO) is the senior officer tasked with overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the business.

  • The chief operating officer usually reports directly to the chief executive officer (CEO) and is considered second in the chain of command.
  • Depending on the preferences of the CEO, the COO often handles the company’s internal affairs while the CEO acts as the company’s public face and thus handles all external communications.
  • Skills required to be a COO include strong analytical, managerial, communication and leadership skills.
  • There are usually seven different types of COO that are best suited for different situations and different companies.