Chartered Director Programme Alumni Event Held at Central Bank of Ireland

What Boards Should Know From the COO

Caroline Spillane CDir, Chief Executive, IoD Ireland, opened the event, warmly welcoming members to the Central Bank of Ireland for a discussion on how boards can better engage with Chief Operating Officers (COOs) to drive strategic execution, enhance operational resilience, and strengthen governance effectiveness. 

The event was moderated by Marcella Flood CDir, Chief Operating Officer, Central Bank of Ireland and included panellists: Davina Saint CDir, experienced Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director; Ger Perdiasatt, Experienced COO and Board Advisor; and James Tone, Chief Operating Officer, Aon Ireland. 

In her welcome address, Marcella highlighted how the relationship between Boards and Chief Operating Officers are often under-recognised even though they are vital to organisational performance. The panel discussion focused further on this theme on how the COO was critical to the board, with one reflection that a good COO needs to be a "mind reader as well as a map reader".

The conversation offered valuable insights into governance, addressing what makes a productive and fruitful COO and Board relationship. The importance of clear and simple communication was also addressed, and the responsibility of a director to always ask the question when the risk of an action is not clear. The discussion also addressed how to advance a strategy in an unpredictable business environment, and how best to embed resilience and execution excellence into the governance of an organisation. 

The conversation culminated in a lively Q&A session with members of the Chartered Director Programme Alumni, whose questions and reflections added real depth to the dialogue. A heartfelt thank you to our alumni for their thoughtful contributions and continued engagement.

Caroline Spillane CDir closed the event by acknowledging and thanking Marcella Flood, each of the panellists and the Central Bank of Ireland team for sharing their insights and generously hosting the event. She further reminded attendees of our commitment to supporting our members on their CPD journey with the latest learning and education opportunities, events and accessible content. 

This was an exclusive event for the IoD Chartered Director Programme Alumni. This is a unique network for past and present participants of the Programme, aimed at fostering and supporting this growing and dynamic community. IoD Ireland is committed to fostering and supporting corporate governance standards through its member and board services, and learning and education offerings, including the highly rated Chartered Director Programme.