Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO), High Tech Software Company
The Client
A fast-growing high-tech software company found itself at a critical inflection point. Sales were accelerating rapidly, but delivery operations were struggling to keep up. Engineering teams were stretched thin, customer expectations were slipping and the internal pressure was beginning to erode morale. What had once felt exciting and high-energy now felt chaotic and the board knew something needed to shift.
The Requirement
Recognising the risk to both customers and employees, the leadership team realised they needed an interim COO who could stabilise the business without slowing its momentum. This was a delicate brief: the right person needed deep experience scaling technology businesses, paired with the empathy and practical calm required to support teams on the brink of burnout.
The board sought someone who could bring clarity to complex workflows, align product and engineering with commercial reality, and create a more sustainable operating rhythm. Above all, they needed a leader who could restore confidence across the organisation and rebuild trust with customers who had started to doubt delivery timelines.
The Solution
Novo partnered with the executive team to understand the company’s operating cadence, cultural challenges and long-term growth ambitions. We conducted a targeted search focusing on senior operators with scaling experience in fast-paced software environments.
Our approach included:
- Identifying leaders experienced in rapid-growth SaaS and engineering-heavy organisations
- Assessing track records in operational redesign, cross-functional alignment and delivery improvement
- Evaluating leadership style, communication approach and the ability to support stressed teams
- Ensuring the interim could establish order quickly without imposing unnecessary bureaucracy
The Outcome
Novo appointed an interim COO who immediately brought stability and reassurance. They simplified processes, aligned product, engineering and customer functions, and created clearer, more realistic delivery expectations. Teams felt able to breathe again. Communication became more open, deadlines became achievable and customers noticed the improvement as delivery stabilised.
The interim also prepared the business for its next investment round—tightening metrics, strengthening governance and boosting operational discipline.
By the time the permanent COO arrived, they inherited an organisation with rhythm, clarity and teams who felt part of something sustainable rather than overwhelmed by continual growth.
