Chief Operating Officer

Definition: a Chief Operating Officer is the highest ranking executive responsible for the corporation's operations. He looks after issues such as marketing, sales, supply chain and personnel. More hands-on than the CEO, the COO looks after day-to-day activities while providing feedback to the CEO.
Normally the COO reports to the Chief Executive Officer. Routinely in large organizations the COO will be the heir apparent to the CEO.

More on chief operating officers. More on corporate governance: Agency Problem, Belief System, Board of Directors, Boundary System, Chairman of The Board, more...