Chief Operating Officer (COO) vs Chief of Staff at HoldCo vs Vice President

Primary Role:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Manages day-to-day operations of the company

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Strategic and operational advisor, focusing on portfolio management

Vice President: Senior executive role, overseeing a specific division or function

Reporting Relationship:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Typically reports to CEO or President

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Reports to HoldCo executive, possibly CEO or board

Vice President: Reports to CEO or higher executive level

Scope of Responsibilities:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Oversees all operational activities (finance, HR, etc.)

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Overseeing operations and strategy across the portfolio of companies

Vice President: Wide-ranging, depending on the specific area of responsibility

Decision-Making Authority:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Significant authority over operations

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Considerable, influencing decisions across the portfolio

Vice President: High level, strategic decisions within their area

Strategic Planning:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Involved in the strategic planning process and responsible for implementing the strategy at an operational level

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Involved in strategic planning for the holding company and its entities

Vice President: Integral to strategic planning in their area of responsibility

Team Management:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Manages multiple teams or departments across the organization

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Coordinates across various management teams within the portfolio

Vice President: Manages a large team or department

Meeting Involvement:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Often leads meetings related to operations and strategy implementation

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Involved in high-level meetings, providing insights and alignment

Vice President: Leads meetings within their area of responsibility

Project Management:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Oversees large-scale projects that affect multiple areas of the company

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Oversees projects that affect multiple companies within the portfolio

Vice President: May oversee strategic projects within their area

Communication:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Responsible for communicating decisions and strategies to the teams they manage and the broader organization

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Facilitates communication across the portfolio and with external stakeholders

Vice President: Responsible for high-level communication within their area

Professional Development:

Chief Operating Officer (COO): Focuses on the professional development of the teams they manage

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Develops expertise in portfolio management and strategic oversight

Vice President: Focuses on leadership and management skills in their domain