Most COOs Grew Into Role, Study Finds
A benchmark survey of almost 300 operations leaders finds most did not plan to build a career in operations.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Job Search
Vestd and Operations Nation found that seven in 10 Chief Operating Officers grew into their role rather than planning for it. The research, published in The Modern COO Benchmark 2026, surveyed almost 300 operations leaders.
Why it matters
The findings suggest operations leaders often take on ownership of unclaimed problems over time, which can shape how companies assign responsibility. Understanding that pattern may help businesses plan leadership roles more deliberately.
The median operations leader has primary responsibility for 10 business functions, and 54% own two or more of finance, people and legal. Three in four report straight to the CEO, though the report does not detail how these roles are evaluated over time.
The players
Vestd
Vestd is a company that partnered on the research into the career paths of operations leaders.
Operations Nation
Operations Nation is a global community of more than 800 startup and scaleup operations leaders that co-produced the benchmark.
The details
Operations leaders often became cross-functional problem solvers by repeatedly saying yes until the job was theirs. Operations Nation, a global community of more than 800 startup and scaleup operations leaders, is a partner in the research.
Timeline
The Modern COO Benchmark 2026 was published in 2026.
Market Landscape
The benchmark's focus on how COOs became responsible for cross-functional problems reflects a broader pattern in startup and scaleup management structures. Its findings describe the career paths of leaders in a fast-growing business sector.
For professionals considering operations careers, the research suggests many leaders reach the role gradually by taking on unowned problems. Readers weighing a path into operations may find that absorbing cross-functional responsibility is a common route.
The takeaway
Many operations leaders grew into their roles by taking on problems no one else owned. Professionals seeking leadership growth may find that voluntarily tackling unclaimed work is a recognized path.
Further reading
Explore more on Job Search for career context.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Star.
