USA's Most Influential COOs 2025

In the U.S., the role of the Chief Operating Officer is changing faster than ever. A 2024 McKinsey study revealed that over 60% of COOs now play an active role in company strategy, innovation, and digital transformation. These roles once considered the domain of the CEO or CTO. And it’s not about managing logistics or keeping the lights on anymore. Whether it’s delivering healthcare during a crisis, building resilient supply chains, streamlining education for adult learners, or reshaping the future of finance and defense, the modern COO is now the engine, and sometimes the compass of the organization. TradeFlock’s new edition, USA’s Most Influential COOs 2025, dives into the lives and leadership of some of the famous COOs in USA and operations executives who are redefining what it means to lead from the inside. Through exclusive conversations, we unpack the professional journeys of the best COOs in USA, uncover the pivotal moments that shaped their leadership, and explore the hard-won lessons that helped them turn roadblocks into stepping stones.

These are stories of innovation born from grit, systems built with empathy, and operations led with a deeply human understanding of purpose. Beyond the boardrooms and balance sheets, this edition also brings you insight-rich articles on the trends shaping industries today, from AI and workforce evolution to cultural history, economic currents, science, and even sports. Because the top chief operating officers in the USA, learn, adapt, manage and inspire across every arena.

Alice Massey

Chief Strategy & Operating Officer

POP Recovery Systems

Honoured among the USA’s Most Influential COOs 2025, Alice Massey is changing how recovery works, mixing AI with care to help people heal better after surgery. At POP Recovery Systems, she builds smart, personalized platforms that reduce hospital readmissions. She brings 15+ years of experience from top firms like Capital One, saving millions through smart systems. More than just a COO, Alice is a bold strategist shaping the future of healthcare, one recovery at a time.

David Zambrana

President & Chief Operating Officer

Jackson Health System

From ICU nurse to President & COO of Jackson Health System, Dr. David Zambrana leads with both compassion and vision. Armed with clinical roots and a PhD in healthcare systems, he transforms complexity into clarity for one of Florida’s largest public hospitals. His leadership is where the heart meets high-performance, elevating care for millions, one bold decision at a time.

Dillon Emanuel

VP Operations

Surfco Restoration & Construction

Dillon Emanuel keeps cool when chaos hits, leading storm recovery, disasters, and deadlines with calm and clarity. He started in the field, earning trust by showing up, solving problems, and standing beside his team. Now as VP of Operations at Surfco and one of USA’s Most Influential COOs in USA 2025, he builds systems that help people, not just check boxes. For Dillon, real leadership is about care, action, and being there when it counts.

Frank St. John

Chief Operating Officer

Lockheed Martin

Frank St. John started at Lockheed Martin as a high school intern and rose through the ranks with deep engineering expertise. Now as COO, he leads operations during one of the most complex times in defense history, navigating global disruptions and digital threats. He’s driving transformation across $65 billion in business, from missiles to cyber systems, blending precision with bold strategy.

John Waldron

President and COO

Goldman Sachs

When Wall Street stumbles and the tides of global finance shift, calm leadership matters most. John Waldron, once an English major with dreams of writing, now steers Goldman Sachs with quiet strength. From deal rooms to boardrooms, he’s built trust, forged strategy, and stayed grounded through it all. In a world that often rewards noise, Waldron proves the true power lies in steady hands and clear vision.

Karen Burke

Chief Operating Officer

YWCA, USA

When Karen Burke walks into a boardroom, she brings stories, not just spreadsheets. From tribal courts to national leadership, she’s built systems rooted in empathy and equity. Now as COO of YWCA USA, she leads with a survivor’s voice in mind and a strategist’s lens in hand. Because for Karen, real leadership means listening first, and changing the system from within.

Karen L. Hanlon

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Highmark Health

In a world chasing headlines, Karen L. Hanlon builds what lasts, quietly reshaping healthcare from the inside out. As EVP & COO of Highmark Health, she’s the operational architect behind a $27B enterprise, uniting care, coverage, and tech into one seamless experience. With steady leadership and financial grit, she’s redefining healthcare’s backbone, without ever needing the spotlight.

Laura Sherman

COO

Dealer Merchant Services

Named as one of USA’s Most Influential COOs in USA 2025, Laura Sherman saw the future of dealership operations before most even logged off fax machines. Now as COO at Dealer Merchant Services, she’s helping dealerships ditch hidden fees and outdated systems. With 30+ years across finance, sales, and digital, she’s a hands-on expert who gets results. She’s keeping things running and reimagining how smooth, smart, and profitable operations can be.

Raghu Krishnaiah

Chief Operating Officer

University of Phoenix

Raghu Krishnaiah helps working adults succeed by making education flexible, skills-based, and driven by data. With tech roots from MIT and Wharton, he’s built smarter systems that focus on real outcomes, not just degrees. At University of Phoenix, he leads everything from academics to AI adoption, making learning more personalized and job-ready.

Sheila Antrum

Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

UCSF Health

Sheila Antrum began her journey as a nurse, where she learned the power of compassion and care. Over time, she took on bigger roles, leading hospitals and improving how they serve patients. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, Sheila helped UCSF Health stay strong, calm, and ready, making sure every patient got the care they needed.

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