Role
Interim COO: execution, held to numbers.
Brief
Strategy rarely fails alone. Execution fails first, in the weekly detail nobody is reviewing.
Direct answer
An interim COO takes temporary responsibility for operations: supply chain, service levels, unit costs and the management routines that keep them visible. Used when execution below the CEO is failing or the seat is empty. Monthly retainer, start within two weeks, mandate of six to twelve months.
Typical triggers
- Operations director leaves during a growth or integration phase.
- Service levels slip and customer complaints reach the board.
- Unit costs drift after a price increase from key suppliers.
- Two sites need to become one operating model after a deal.
- A founder-CEO is carrying operations personally and cannot scale further.
The first 90 days
- Weeks 1-2: baseline on cost per unit, on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, headcount.
- Week 3: weekly operating review installed, with owners and dates on every action.
- Months 2-3: one cost line brought back under control, one process rebuilt end to end.
- Continuous: honest assessment of which functional managers can hold their roles.
Continue reading
Hub
Interim CEO in ItalyOne senior operator with a C-level track record, the alternative to head hunter fees.
Related
Interim managementHow the engagement model works.
Related
Manufacturing mandatesWhere operations mandates concentrate.
FAQ
Interim COO FAQ
What does an interim COO take on?
Day-to-day execution: operations, supply chain, service levels, cost per unit and the management routines that keep them visible. The mandate is defined by the operating metrics, not by an org chart title.
When is an interim COO better than an interim CEO?
When the CEO is in place and effective but execution below them is failing. If the accountability gap is with ownership and strategy, the mandate belongs at CEO level instead.
What does an interim COO fix in the first 90 days?
Usually three things: a reliable weekly operating review, one cost line brought back under control, and clarity on which managers can hold their functions and which cannot.
Does the interim COO hire the permanent one?
The interim COO writes the brief, screens candidates operationally and hands over the routines. The hiring decision stays with the CEO and the owners.
Need this seat filled. Fast.