The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
VP of Global Operations / Global Supply Chain
5-10 years at VP level before COOSkills to master
- Enterprise-wide P&L management, multi-country operational oversight, strategic vendor negotiation, M&A integration leadership, board-level reporting.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a major global operational transformation programme with demonstrable ROI.
- Built and led a high-performing leadership team across multiple geographies.
- Consistently delivered operational excellence metrics and contributed significantly to company P&L.
- Demonstrated strong external stakeholder management, including investor relations or major partnership development.
- 2
General Manager / Business Unit President
7-12 years in GM/President roles before COOSkills to master
- Full P&L ownership for a significant business unit, cross-functional leadership (sales, product, operations), market entry strategy, talent development across diverse functions.
You're ready to move on when
- Achieved significant growth and profitability for a business unit.
- Successfully navigated complex market challenges and competitive landscapes.
- Developed a deep understanding of the end-to-end value chain beyond just operations.
- Proven ability to influence and collaborate with other C-suite executives.