Operational excellence is the backbone of every thriving organization, and in today’s complex global economy, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a critical role in driving efficiency, innovation, and scalable growth. As companies adapt to rapid technological shifts and evolving customer demands, the COO’s influence has grown well beyond day-to-day operations. Today, Operations Council will focus on 11 COOs that accepted new roles in July 2025.
Apple Names Sabih Khan as New COO
Apple announced Jeff Williams will transition his role as chief operating officer to Sabih Khan, Apple’s senior vice president of Operations, as part of a long-planned succession. Khan has been at Apple for 30 years and joined the executive team as senior vice president of Operations in 2019. He has been in charge of Apple’s global supply chain for the past six years, ensuring product quality and overseeing planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and product fulfillment functions, as well as Apple’s supplier responsibility programs that protect and educate workers at production facilities around the world.
Aldi Names Karla Waddleton as New COO
Aldi U.S. has promoted longtime executive Karla Waddleton to be its next chief operating officer. She started with Aldi more than 20 years ago as a district manager in St. Louis. She rose through the ranks, becoming director of real estate and development in 2006, director of store operations in 2012 and vice president in 2014. In 2016, Waddleton established the grocer’s Rosenberg Division, which serves the greater Houston area.
Puma Names Andreas Hubert as New COO
PUMA has appointed Andreas Hubert as Chief Operating Officer. As PUMA’s COO, Andreas will be in charge of PUMA’s Global Sourcing Operations, including Sustainability and Product Development, IT and Logistics. Andreas served as Chief Information Officer at Adidas until June 2025, overseeing the company’s technology strategy, systems, applications, and IT services for more than four years. He joined the sports company in 2005 and held several leadership roles.
Novolex Names Tamer Abuaita as New COO
Novolex, a leading manufacturer in the food and beverage packaging industry, announced that Tamer Abuaita has been appointed Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, Abuaita will oversee all Novolex global operating functions.
Oruka Therapeutics Names Laura Sandler as New COO
Oruka Therapeutics has promoted Laura Sandler to chief operating officer. Sandler joined Oruka in 2024 as SVP of Operations and has over 20 years of experience in biopharma leadership.
Orkin Names Scott Weaver as New COO
Orkin announced the promotion of Scott Weaver to the role of chief operating officer, Orkin USA Commercial Operations. In this new role, Weaver will oversee the company’s day-to-day commercial operations and national accounts. He will work closely with Orkin’s executive leadership teams to further align business functions, optimize performance and continue delivering world class service to customers nationwide.
Thermon Group Holdings Names Thomas Cerovski as New COO
Thermon Group Holdings announced the appointment of Thomas Cerovski as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Cerovski, who has been with Thermon since 2019, will focus on executing the company’s strategic pillars to drive growth in decarbonization, digitization, and diversification. His extensive experience in the energy and industrial sectors positions him to lead Thermon in its next phase of growth, aiming to enhance shareholder value and expand the company’s installed base for recurring revenue.
Ooni Names Amanda Tohurst as New COO
After a year-long global search, Ooni announced Amanda Tolhurst as new chief operating officer. Amanda brings with her more than 20 years of powerhouse leadership experience from some of the world’s most iconic brands – think Nike, Converse, Whirlpool and most recently, Specialized Bicycle Components. Now, she’s bringing that energy, expertise, and global perspective to the world of Ooni.
CenterPoint Engery Names Jesus Soto Jr as New COO
CenterPoint Energy announced that Jesus Soto Jr. will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Soto, who brings more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry, will oversee the company’s Electric Operations, Gas Operations, Safety, Supply Chain, and Customer Care functions across all states CenterPoint serves.
Route Mobile Names Sammy Mamdani as New COO
Route Mobile announced that Sammy Mamdani, Executive Vice President – Group Head – Global Operations, is the new Chief Operating Officer. Mamdani brings over 18 years of experience across senior leadership roles.
Kramer Motorcycle Names Michael Lueg as New COO
Krämer Motorcycles is entering a bold new chapter of performance, leadership, and market alignment. As the brand continues to expand globally, the team at Krämer HQ is reinforcing its foundation with major investments — both in operational precision and customer-focused innovation. At the core of this evolution is the appointment of Michael Lueg as Chief Operating Officer. With a strong background in supply chain logistics and performance manufacturing, Lueg brings a strategic mindset and technical discipline that will elevate Krämer’s global operations.
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