article thumbnail

The Rise of the COO

Harvard Business Review

COOs are relatively common in service industries such as financial services, energy, information technology and telecommunications, but in manufacturing sectors — such as automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical companies — they are relatively rare. It still doesn't seem necessary to be a COO in order to take over as CEO, though.

COO 12
article thumbnail

7 Charts Show How Political Affiliation Shapes U.S. Boards

Harvard Business Review

But affiliation doesn’t guarantee enthusiasm, as this sample of survey comments reveals: “On sabbatical from the Democratic party”; “Republican, unless they keep acting like goofballs”; and “Independent (especially this year!). chemicals, metals & mining, paper & forest products).