Most startup CEO’s would love a COO but can’t afford it. So they do the work themselves, even though “COO work” is not what they love. My just-finished Interim COO gig at Workbar is a perfect example of where the short-term expense of an Interim COO might be the way to go.
Workbar is Boston’s original coworking space and has a hub-and-spoke network of 20 locations, each with a unique “four-neighborhood” design. As interim COO, I revamped the management team of this 30-person company, implementing processes to get the company organized, focused, and in sync. As a team, we migrated the company so it can sustain rapid growth in Greater Boston and beyond.
Whether interim or long term, it is important that the skills of a COO complement those of the CEO, as detailed in 9 Reasons Why Your Startup Needs a Mysterious, Unsung Hero..
What I Do: I am a professional interim CEO or COO. Since 2000 I have completed over 20 interim roles in the US and abroad, from pure startups to companies with $25 million in revenue. I am an agent of change, helping companies get started, restarted, or grow to the next level. LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/DesmondPieri
David Brooks’ NY Times Op-Ed piece, 
Change Agent 