Most Innovative Global COOs 2026

The COO used to be the person who executed someone else’s vision and rarely got asked for their own. This has quietly stopped being true in 2026. The operators reshaping global business today are not running the machine someone else designed, they are redesigning it in real time, and betting on AI-driven supply chains. TradeFlock’s latest edition, “Most Innovative Global COOs 2026,” profiles ten of them, operators whose decisions have quietly determined whether ambitious strategies actually survived contact with reality.

We spoke with COOs across manufacturing, fintech, logistics, healthcare, and consumer tech, working in markets from across the world. Their industries and playbooks rarely matched, but almost every conversation landed on the same point that ‘the operators who built lasting influence were the ones who treated operations as a source of ideas, not just a place to execute them.’

Inside this edition are candid conversations, operational lessons earned through failure as often as success, and a closer look at the executives changing what the COO role is actually for. Also read our story of the month on Pax Silica, an American-led global initiative.

Chris Mashburn

COO

Jorie AI

Operations, crisis management, healthcare, and security leadership have shaped Chris Mashburn’s career across healthcare, biotechnology, and public safety. His experience spans entrepreneurship, operational management, compliance, technology, and emergency management, enabling organisations to strengthen systems, manage complex challenges, and build disciplined, high-performance operations. He also demonstrates a strong history of working in the healthcare, security and biotechnology industries.

Abdullah Al-Sabban

COO & CEO Advisor

Panda Retail Company – Savola Group

Transformation, operational excellence, and enterprise leadership have defined Abdullah Al-Sabban’s career across retail, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. With over 28 years of experience, he has led large-scale operations, supply chains, and transformation initiatives, helping organisations strengthen performance, develop leaders, and build resilient, high-performing cultures.

Juan Ignacio Rubiolo

EVP and COO

The AES Corporation

Energy markets, commercial strategy, and operational leadership have shaped Juan Ignacio Rubiolo’s career across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. With more than two decades of experience at AES, he has led regional businesses, strategic planning, risk management, and growth initiatives across complex and evolving energy markets.

Laurent Bataille

EVP (Europe Operations)

Schneider Electric

Energy, digital infrastructure, and industrial transformation have shaped Laurent Bataille’s leadership journey at Schneider Electric. With more than two decades of operational experience, he has led global businesses across electrification, automation, software, and digital energy, driving growth, transformation, and innovation across complex international markets.

Menaka Mayadunne

Director Operations

Sandbox Consultancy Services (Pvt) Ltd

Strategic execution, operational leadership, and business transformation have shaped Menaka Mayadunne’s career at Sandbox Consultancy Services. Over a decade with the firm, she has progressed across increasingly broad leadership roles, helping shape growth strategy, client delivery, organisational systems, and the operational foundations needed to scale businesses.

Pawel Swiatek

COO

Moniepoint Inc. (Formerly TeamApt Inc.)

Business transformation, organisational leadership, and strategic growth have shaped Pawel Swiatek’s career across financial services, investment management, and technology. His experience spans Bridgewater Associates, Capital One, and entrepreneurship, where he has built teams, developed operating systems, and supported organizations through growth and international expansion.

Pua Seck Guan

Executive Director and COO

Wilmar International

Real estate, investment, and operational leadership have shaped Pua Seck Guan’s career across Singapore’s business landscape. His executive experience includes leading major real estate businesses and driving growth, portfolio development, and operational performance, bringing a strategic perspective to complex organisations and long-term value creation.

Tom Cyriac

COO

SADAD International LLC

Sales, financial services, automotive, and business leadership have shaped Tom Cyriac’s career across India and the Middle East. With more than three decades of experience, he has held senior roles across financial services and automotive businesses, combining commercial expertise, regional leadership, and operational experience to drive sustainable growth.

Wallapa Tangsopa

COO

SynerMac Co. Ltd

Automotive operations, human resources, and organisational development have shaped Wallapa Tangsopa’s career across Thailand’s manufacturing and automotive sectors. Her experience spans HR leadership, workforce planning, process standardisation, and business operations, enabling organisations to strengthen productivity, manage change, and align people with evolving business priorities.

Yasmeen Muhtaseb

COO

EY MENA

Operational excellence, consulting leadership, and organisational development have shaped Yasmeen Muhtaseb’s 25-year career at EY. As COO of EY MENA, she leads regional operations while championing collaboration, inclusivity, flexibility, and future-focused ways of working that strengthen performance and help develop the next generation of leaders.