Chief Operating Officer (COO) Recruiters • Find Your Next COO
Hiring Minnesota’s Chief Operating Officers
Hiring the right Chief Operating Officer is one of the most consequential decisions a growing organization can make. At Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting, we specialize in COO executive recruitment across Minnesota, helping companies from founder-led businesses to large enterprise organizations place operations leaders who can translate strategic vision into day-to-day results, build scalable infrastructure, and align people, processes, and performance across the organization.
As a Minnesota-based COO recruiting firm with national search capabilities, our team brings deep experience in senior operations leadership and a practical understanding of what separates a capable COO from a transformational one. Whether your organization needs a COO to lead a period of rapid growth, integrate an acquisition, stabilize operations during transition, or build the operational foundation for long-term scale, Versique’s COO executive recruiters know how to find and attract the right leader for that specific moment.
Finding the Right COO
The best Chief Operating Officers do more than oversee execution. They are the connective tissue between vision and results, building cross-functional alignment, driving accountability, and creating the operating systems that allow an organization to grow without breaking. A great COO brings both strategic thinking and operational discipline, earns the trust of the CEO and the leadership team, and knows how to lead through complexity and change. Our COO executive search process is built to identify leaders who meet that standard — not just operationally, but culturally.
Our Executive Recruitment Expertise
Versique’s executive search team brings proven experience across industries, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, consumer goods, marketing, and technology. We recognize that each COO search is unique and requires a tailored approach.
Our expertise includes:
- Proven Process: We leverage our proprietary Talent Activation Process to assess leadership, culture fit, and organizational needs.
- Deep Network: Access to top Chief Operating Officers and rising leaders across Minnesota and beyond.
- Tailored Search: We customize every engagement to match your ownership type, growth stage, and leadership requirements.
- Confidentiality: We manage each search with discretion to protect both clients and candidates.
COO Roles We Recruit For
Versique’s COO executive recruiters place operations leaders across a range of senior roles, including:
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Interim COO or Fractional COO
- President & COO
- VP of Operations (senior, COO-equivalent scope)
- Chief of Staff (COO-track or senior operational leadership)
Employer Getting Started
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Why partner with Versique Executive‘s COO Recruiters?
- Specialized COO Executive Search: We focus on senior operations and C-suite leadership roles, bringing the depth and precision that generalist recruiting firms cannot match.
- Minnesota COO Expertise: Our roots in the Twin Cities business community give us unique access to both active and passive COO candidates across the region and nationally.
- Search Built Around Your Organization: We do not run a one-size-fits-all process. Our COO searches are scoped around your industry, ownership structure, growth stage, and the specific operational challenges you are trying to solve.
- Recruiters Who Understand Operations: Our Executive Search team brings firsthand knowledge of senior leadership dynamics, allowing us to evaluate COO candidates with the operational depth and executive presence the role demands.
Recent Executive Placements & Insights
Don’t take our word for it
“Matt does a great job getting to know the position you are recruiting for and has given me excellent candidates to review. I would recommend Matt for your next executive hire or if you are on a personal journey for your new position.”
“While other search firms throw a bunch of resumes at you, Matt spent time truly understanding our company’s needs and only brought forth the most qualified candidates. In less than 4 weeks, we had our candidate selected, and were able to successfully move forward as an organization.”
“Matt has helped me on at least ten searches. When Matt is engaged, he researches the role extensively. He then talks in detail with the hiring decision maker to understand what the leader is looking for in the final candidate.{…} Matt’s style and communication are open. He keeps me abreast of progress without being intrusive to my schedule.”
“Versique brought two things that I expected and one that I didn’t. He supplied the expertise our board needed to do a very important and rather rare task. Their research and connections provided many qualified candidates, And, as a bonus, his guidance gave the board confidence. Their thoroughness and diligence were key to making the board feel confident that the process was professional and complete. I would not hesitate to call Versique again if the need arises.”
Working with Versique on our executive searches was an exceptional experience from start to finish. We engaged their team to help us place a CFO and CHRO two highly strategic and demanding roles for our business. The quality of candidates presented was outstanding; each finalist was not only technically strong but also aligned with our values and long-term vision.
What set Versique apart was the rigor of their search process. They invested the time to understand our culture, leadership dynamics, and strategic goals, which translated into candidates who felt like natural extensions of our executive team. Their communication, transparency, and market insight gave us full confidence at every step. We’re now operating with a stronger, more cohesive leadership team—thanks in large part to their expertise. We wouldn’t hesitate to partner with them again.
Thank you to the Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting team for being such thoughtful partners throughout this process. Your executive insights and steady guidance made all the difference. A big move to say the least, not quite like picking a favorite child, but close for the CEO & Owner of VITAL WorkLife 😀
“While working with Matt for a number of years, within the past two years he has placed a Clinic Director, IT Manager, HIM Manager, Director of Marketing and Communications, and an HR Manager. Whenever we have a position come open where we know there will be difficulty in recruiting, our first phone call is to Matt. Matt is always very attentive and understands the needs of our organization. Matt only presents us with candidates with whom he knows will be a good fit. The leadership Matt found for us has led to improved employee engagement and a renewed sense of trust among employees. We will continue to engage Matt whenever we can.”
“Matt and his team placed two executives within seven months with United Skin Specialists, LLC. Matt’s process was very structured, methodical and efficient. We immediately established the proper qualifications, experience and personal qualifications for the job. The process moved quickly and efficiently.”
“Thank You Matt! It was clear that you had a thorough understanding of the clinical and cultural needs of my departments. You provided us with two extraordinary managers that have helped make pivotal changes in departments that really needed strong leadership. I won’t hesitate to use your services in the future.”
“During the two years I have been at this hospital Matt has conducted successful searches for our Director of IT, Computer Analyst, and CFO. In all the searches, Matt is thorough in researching the needs of the organization, the knowledge required, financial capabilities, and the right fit.”
“Both Directors of Nursing have not just been great additions they have assisted in the expansion of our capability and strengthened our position. […] Including, Improved clinical outcomes, improved patient satisfaction, improved financial outcomes and effectively implemented EMR. We will always know where to turn for recruitment support going forward!”
Let’s find your people together.
People are more than their education. They’re more than past experience. They do more than meet salary requirements. People invent, propel, unearth and build. They transform teams, markets, industries, and bottom lines to take you from good to great, zero to one, in months versus years. People open greater potential—potential that can’t be reached by relying on a resume alone. We’re here to help fill your human potential and build your human capacity. Let’s find your people together. Let’s make the best possible.