COO — Chief Operating Officer
Definition: The executive accountable for day-to-day operations and execution. Where the CEO sets direction, the COO makes the machine actually run on time and on budget.
Example
Hiring a real COO let the CEO stop firefighting and finally spend her week on the next round of strategy.
When you'll hear it
COO shows up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. When someone uses it, they're usually referring to chief operating officer — and they expect the room to already know what that means.
FAQs
What does COO stand for?
COO stands for Chief Operating Officer.
What does COO mean in business and finance?
The executive accountable for day-to-day operations and execution. Where the CEO sets direction, the COO makes the machine actually run on time and on budget.
Where will I hear COO used at work?
COO comes up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. It's used as shorthand for chief operating officer, so people assume you already know the term.