Fractional Operations Director / COO -helping founders streamline, scale or prepare for exit... without the chaos
Does this sound like you?
Are you the leader of a customer or product-centric business that's gone from strength to strength faster than you imagined?
Is the stress of trying to keep up keeping you up at night? You know growth is possible - but without the right team, structure and systems, it feels like everything depends on you. You’re stretched too thin, stuck firefighting and can’t see how to scale without burning out.
Maybe there’s a voice in your head whispering: “I’m just winging it.”
You want to grow without chaos. To delegate without worrying it’ll all fall apart. To step back without stepping away completely. You want the business to thrive - but also to have a life that does too.
That’s where I come in.
I help ambitious founders like you move from overwhelm to clarity - putting the strategy, people and processes in place so your business can scale smoothly without you needing to be in every meeting, every decision every hour.
Here's how we can work together...
Fractional COO / Operations Director Packages
(from £3k/month)
This is my core offer: hands-on, embedded support to help founders scale sustainably. I build the operational backbone of your business - team, structure, systems - so you can delegate with confidence, grow with control and lead with clarity.
No quick fixes or bolt-on advice - just serious, strategic, sleeves-rolled-up partnership.
If you’re ready to step out of the chaos and lead a business that runs smoothly (without running you into the ground), this is the place to start.
So why me?
With over 20 years’ experience in operations - spanning global corporates and scaling SMEs - I bring the tools, perspective and pragmatism to build high-performing teams and businesses. I cut through the noise, build clarity and help founders reclaim their focus, energy and time.
Whether you’re looking to streamline, scale or prepare for exit - I’ll help you make it happen, sustainably.
If not now, when?
Ready to chat?
My Framework: The 6 Ps
Performance
income | costs | productivity
Process
processes | procedures | technology
People
skills | recruitment | HR strategy
Planning
strategy | priorities | actions
Protection
insurance | risk | compliance
Personal Coaching
confidence | skills | balance
"Quality combines people power and process power"
Subir Chowdhury
Don't just take my word for it...
Diligent, reliable, easy to work with...
As a new business that is scaling incredibly fast, we had a need to recruit 32 roles within a month, with no dedicated HR support yet within the company. We reached out to Holly and were delighted with the support she gave us. She took time to understand the business and its core values and what we were looking for in our team, advertised a number of roles, screened hundreds of CVs, carried out bespoke screening interviews and arranged the final interview stage. The candidates we saw at final interview stage exceeded our expectations, both in terms of quality and fit for the company, and are now employed with us and working hard to scale the business.
I would thoroughly recommend Holly as someone who is diligent, reliable, easy to work with and takes time to provide a bespoke service.
Andy Mellor
CFO
An invaluable asset to any organization seeking a dynamic and results-driven Operations Leader...
I had the privilege of working alongside Holly for many years and was consistently impressed by her exceptional competence, clear thinking, remarkable organizational skills and ability to translate strategy into operational results. She possesses a rare ability to navigate complex challenges with ease, and her strategic insights and methodical approach were instrumental in streamlining operational processes, resulting in increased efficiency and overall performance.
Holly is also wonderful to work with – she has a style of leadership that fosters a collaborative and positive work environment, bringing out the best in others to achieve beyond expectations.
Her unique combination of skills and character, coupled with her proven track record, make her an invaluable asset to any organization seeking a dynamic and results-driven operations leader.
Polly Gray
Director of Talent Acceleration
Holly completely steadied the ship that was close to sinking...
I honestly don’t know how I would still have a business if it wasn’t for Holly. She has only been with us five months, but I am astounded daily by what she brings to the team and my life…Holly is our captain and completely steadied the ship that was close to sinking. Not only that, she is sailing us into really exciting waters and making sure that we are always striving to achieve our goals.
Entrepreneurial Leader,
Nov 2020 (Eve Bell, Baba+Boo)
My deep operational expertise will optimise your performance capability across people and processes to drive efficiencies, minimise costs and maximise profit.
Check out my case studies...
Baba+Boo:
Business Transformation
Baba+Boo lacked operational rigour in the face of rapid business growth. As Operations Director, established robust operational strategy. Identified key skill requirements; recruited talented team; created capacity planning tools to improve peak trading resource management; introduced risk management frameworks; designed full suite of policies to ensure business compliance; and identified process bottlenecks to reduce cost and improve customer experience. Led Operations during intense growth period where revenues doubled vs prior year.
Vivify Venues:
Recruitment Drive
Vivify Venues was scaling fast and needed to quickly fill a number of critical operational roles, with no dedicated HR support. Engaged as Consultant to identify skills and hire talented, committed individuals. Understood business values and skills requirements; advertised roles; designed tailored screening process; reviewed hundreds of CVs, and conducted bespoke screening interviews. Succeeded in recruiting 32 roles within a month, receiving feedback that final stage candidates exceeded company expectations in terms of both quality and fit.
GE Capital Fleet Services:
Operations Restructure
GE Capital Fleet Services struggled with poor customer service delivery and rising costs. Hired as Operations Director to drive large-scale operational transformation. Identified optimum structure; defined and hired for new roles; implemented meaningful performance metrics; led redundancy consultation exercise with 100+ employees; and implemented productivity initiatives. Achieved 10% headcount savings with no impact on performance, 100% client retention and 20% efficiency cost savings vs budget, exceeding all departmental targets.
Your questions answered...
How do I know you have the skills and experience to help me scale?
What exactly is a Fractional Operations Director / COO?
What is the difference between an Operations Director and a COO?
Will this support work for my size and type of business?
Don't just take my word for it...
Holly drives strong performance within her teams...
Holly has an innate ability to drive exceptional results. She has a meticulous eye for detail, through analyzing complex data sets and using metrics as a driver to continually transform process, identify and implement control mechanisms while influencing growth within individuals. Not shy of having difficult conversations, Holly drives strong performance within her teams, while creating an inclusive and rewarding environment.
David Viney
Global Delivery Leader
The value Holly brings to our business is second to none...
Working with Holly in securing talented candidates was an absolute pleasure. She grasped the requirements of the roles, qualities of candidates and our needs as a business very quickly. I was kept informed at every stage of the recruitment process and Holly fully managed from start to finish.
I would highly recommend any employer to approach and take advantage of Holly’s knowledge and expertise. The value she brings to our business is second to none.
Glenn Carroll
Operations Manager
Holly is a resiliant, dedicated and talented leader...
Holly is a resiliant, dedicated and talented leader. She is comfortable in the detail whilst keeping the strategic vision fixed in her sights. Holly provides leadership and coaching around 360 degrees (at all levels of an organisation). it was a pleasure working with her, whilst we established new performance standards across a complex and diverse global operation.
Barrie Davies
Founder & CEO
You’ve worked hard to build this business. Let’s make sure it grows in a way that gives you the income, impact and freedom you deserve - without the burnout.
If you're ready to build the solid operational foundation your business needs to scale, I'd love to help.