Chief Operating Officers of Business Enterprises Who Are LGBTQ
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of a company or organization is the individual responsible for the day-to-day operations of a company. These responsibilities primarily focus on the smooth functioning of all internal units within the company, the inter-dependence of the various units, and all technical aspects related to meeting production or service commitments. In this role, the COO takes responsibility for the development and execution of a company's business plan. The COO reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and is often seen as the likely successor to that position.
A good example is Beth Ford, now Chief Executive Officer of the agricultural production company Land O'Lakes. She was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of the company before assuming the CEO position in 2018, making her the first lesbian leader of a Fortune 500 company in the United States.
It has been noted that today's COOs come from varying backgrounds. Thus, it is not unusual for LGBTQ individuals to be included in such high executive business roles. As second in command, in most cases the role is defined more by the relationship with the CEO than by the nature of the operations of the business itself. There has to be a great degree of trust between the two individuals.
We have identified the following prominent LGBTQ COOs of business enterprises. Simply click on their names to read their fascinating biographies.
Australia
- John Allan, The Australian newspaper
- Ken Terado, Out for Australia
Canada
- James Bond, Western Life Assurance Company
- Lara Shewchuk, Architech
- Timothy Thompson, TD Asset Management
Germany
- Karen Meyer, Deutsche Bank
Great Britain
- Richard Beaven, Brightside Insurance Group
- Sara Geater, All3Media
- Geoff Godwin, AIG UK Property Casualty
- Robyn Grew, MAN Group
- David Hynam, Friends Life
- John Kerslake, Costa Coffee Company
- Jim McEleney, BNY Mellon
Italy
- Antonio Zapulla, Thomson Reuters Foundation
Switzerland
- Veit Schuhen, Maitland Group
United States
- Marge Connelly, Convergys Corporation; Barclays Bank; Wells Fargo Advisors
- Tim Cook, Intelligent Electronics
- Diane Felicio, Community Catalyst
- James Fitterling, Dow Chemical Company
- Beth Ford, Land O'Lakes
- Rodney Jones-Tyson, Baird
- George Kalogridis, Disneyland Paris
- David Lerman, Say Media
- Kelsey Louie, Harlam United Community AIDS Center
- Eddie Mannis, City of Knoxville
- Rose Marcario, Patagonia
- Cynthia Martin, Hirsch Associates
- David Medina, Results for America
- Robert Nuzzo,Blackrock
- Allyn Shaw, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Gerry Stone, Bank of America
- Janet Weinberg, Gay Men's Health Crisis
- Chuck Wolfe, American Legacy Foundation
- Jen Wong,Time Inc.
See Also
- LGBTQ Chief Executive Officers of Business Enterprises
- LGBTQ Chief Information/Technology Officers
- Union Leaders Who Identify as LGBTQ
- LGBTQ Economists
- Noteworthy LGBTQ Individuals in the Accounting Profession
- Human Resource Professionals Who Are LGBTQ
- Marketing Professionals Who Identify as LGBTQ
- Prominent LGBTQ Philanthropists and Donors
- LGBTQ Billionaires
- LGBTQ Venture Capitalists and Startup Advisors
- LGBTQ Bankers
- Investment and Wealth Management and the LGBTQ Community
- Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Officers Who Identify as LGBTQ
- The LGBTQ Presence in the Insurance Industry
- Transgender Business Leaders
- LGBTQ Chief Legal, Compliance and Risk Officers
