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
Director / VP of Customer Value (Large Enterprise)
5-10 years at this levelSkills to master
- Enterprise-wide P&L management, board-level reporting, multi-year strategic planning, leading multi-functional teams (100+ people), M&A integration leadership.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeded NRR and churn targets for a major business unit or product line.
- Successfully led a significant customer-facing organisational transformation.
- Recognised as a thought leader in customer experience within your industry.
- Built and retained a high-performing leadership team (Directors/Senior Managers).
- 2
Chief Operating Officer (COO) of a Smaller / Mid-Size Company
3-7 years as COOSkills to master
- Broader operational oversight (beyond just customer-facing), full P&L accountability for the entire business, investor relations, strategic partnerships, scaling operations for growth.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrated ability to optimise end-to-end business operations, not just customer-facing ones.
- Proven track record of driving significant revenue growth and operational efficiency.
- Strong relationships with investors and experience in fundraising rounds.
- Successfully built and led a diverse executive team.