Interim COO
Interim COO. Operational leadership when it counts.
Delivery dates slip, processes depend on single people or the head of operations is suddenly gone. Steffen Herr takes operational responsibility for a fixed term, stabilises day-to-day business and builds processes and KPIs that hold without him.
When an interim COO makes sense
No head of operations
The COO or a division head drops out or leaves. Operations have to keep running while the successor is found.
Delivery is at risk
Dates are missed, stock and capacity do not match. Customers notice first.
Growth outpaces the organisation
What worked with 50 employees no longer works with 200. Ownership, processes and steering have to catch up.
Processes without KPIs
People work hard, but nobody sees where things get stuck. A handful of numbers everyone aligns on is missing.
How a COO mandate runs
- 01 · Weeks 1–4
Stabilise operations
Find the bottlenecks in order handling, planning and delivery. First measures with the teams on site, a short daily check-in.
- 02 · Months 2–3
Order processes and KPIs
Process map, clear roles and a small set of steering figures. Standards where everyone works differently today.
- 03 · From month 3
Anchor and hand over
Enable managers, settle routines, set up improvement as an ongoing task. Hand over to the permanent hire.
What this is based on
- 13 years as board member and managing director of Portfolio Consult AG, responsible for all business units
- More than 150 SME projects in strategy, organisation, process improvement and sales
- Second board mandate at dreiplus Unternehmensgruppe AG covering commercial steering and building sales
- Certified process management and quality management specialist (IHK), Lean consultant
- CORE+ framework: analysis, decision and delivery as one continuous approach
Frequently asked questions
What does an interim COO actually take on?
Operational line responsibility: order handling, planning, delivery, quality and the teams behind them. Plus the KPIs management steers by.
How long does a COO mandate last?
Interim mandates usually last three to 18 months. A pure bridge until the role is filled is often shorter, a rebuild of processes longer.
How much of it is on site?
Operational leadership needs presence. COO mandates usually run with two to three days on site per week.
A mandate to fill? An answer within 24 hours.
Availability, terms and fit settled up front. Directly, without detours.
Last updated: 02/10/2026