Operations Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Fractional COO Services in Australia

Ryan Stevens
January 22, 2026
All Insights
Operations Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Fractional COO Services in Australia

Top Outsourced COO Services & Fractional COO in Australia

Australian businesses are increasingly turning to fractional COO services as a way to scale operations, optimize processes, and introduce executive-level leadership without the financial burden of a full-time hire. Whether a company is a startup in need of structured operations, a mid-sized business facing growing pains, or a large enterprise undergoing transformation, a fractional COO can provide the strategic guidance needed to streamline success.

Unlike traditional operations consultants who provide one-off strategic advice, fractional COOs are embedded in the business—working part-time or on an interim basis to execute operational strategies and drive measurable outcomes.

Methodology: How We Selected the Best Australian Interim, Outsourced, and Fractional COO Services

This list was curated based on extensive research into each company’s reputation, leadership team, client feedback, and service offerings. We assessed these agencies through the following criteria:

  1. Experience & Reputation – The years in business, track record, and case studies showcasing successful partnerships.
  2. Key Operations Professionals & Leadership – The caliber and expertise of their COO professionals, including their backgrounds and industries served.
  3. Client Reviews & Testimonials – Evaluating online reviews, ratings, and testimonials from past clients.
  4. Range of Services – The variety of offerings, including strategic consulting, operations management, process optimization, and industry-specific solutions.
  5. Industries Served – Whether they specialize in startups, SMEs, enterprises, SaaS, manufacturing, finance, eCommerce, or other sectors.

To help businesses find the right outsourced COO services in Australia, we’ve compiled a list of top agencies that provide fractional operational leadership.

Meet The Best  Fractional COO & Outsourced COO Services in Australia

Ottesu

What they do:
Ottesu provides interim and fractional COO services for agencies and service-based businesses navigating operational transitions, restructuring, or growth.

Who they work with:
Agency founders and leadership teams experiencing operational chaos, financial ambiguity, or scaling challenges.

Operating model:
Deeply embedded fractional COO support, working inside the business to fix problems quickly, improve decision-making, and build durable operational systems.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Embedded, inside-the-business operational leadership
  ⚡ Strong focus on agency operations and financial clarity
  🎯 Specialists in change, turnaround, and growth transitions
  💬 Systems built to last—not just quick fixes

Sam Wood, Founder & Fractional COO

Sam Wood founded Ottesu to help agency owners cut through complexity and regain control of their operations. As a Fractional COO and Agency Advisor, Sam embeds directly with teams to eliminate chaos, improve financial visibility, and help founders scale with confidence.

Sullivan Collective

What they do:
Sullivan Collective delivers strategic advisory and fractional COO services designed to bring clarity, structure, and consistent execution to growing teams.

Who they work with:
Startups and scale-ups across tech, media, and finance seeking stronger operational rhythm and execution.

Operating model:
Hands-on fractional COO leadership embedded within teams to translate strategy into day-to-day execution.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Strong execution-first mindset
  ⚡ Focus on systems, cadence, and operational rhythm
  🎯 Ideal for fast-growing, execution-driven teams
  💬 Asks the hard questions to drive real progress

Brooke Sullivan, Founder

Brooke Sullivan brings deep operational experience and a sharp execution lens to every engagement. She partners closely with teams to align priorities, embed structure, and ensure strategy actually lands in the business.

Clarity & Compass

Clarity & Compass delivers values-driven, systems-focused fractional COO consulting to help small and mid-sized businesses streamline operations and reduce manual burden.

What they do:
Clarity & Compass offers values-driven, systems-focused fractional COO consulting for small and mid-sized businesses.

Who they work with:
Purpose-led organizations seeking operational clarity without sacrificing culture or well-being.

Operating model:
Fractional COO consulting grounded in process design, clarity, and sustainable operational frameworks.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Strong emphasis on culture and team well-being
  ⚡ Systems that reduce manual burden and overwhelm
  🎯 Heart-led, structured approach to growth
  💬 Human-centered operational design

Steffi Rose, Founder

Steffi Rose blends strategic clarity with empathy, helping leadership teams navigate scale while anchoring operations in systems that support both purpose and performance.

Designed by Life (Jarka Kunova)

What they do:
Designed by Life delivers conscious business leadership through fractional COO/CXO services paired with mindset coaching and systems thinking.

Who they work with:
Mission-driven, remote-first, and transformational businesses seeking aligned growth.

Operating model:
Fractional executive leadership integrating operational execution with human-centered leadership principles.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Rare blend of operations and mindset coaching
  ⚡ 17+ years of executive-level experience
  🎯 Ideal for purpose-led, transformational teams
  💬 Structure without losing soul

Jarka Kunova, Founder

Jarka Kunova brings over 17 years of experience as a Fractional COO/CXO and Online Business Manager. She helps leaders align operations with deeper purpose, offering structure through a conscious, human-first lens.

Fractional Services

What they do:
Fractional Services provides fractional executive leadership to Australian businesses seeking scalable, efficient operations.

Who they work with:
Growing businesses needing operational clarity, leadership structure, and execution support.

Operating model:
Hands-on fractional COO services focused on process optimization and scalable execution.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Strong focus on process and operational efficiency
  ⚡ Practical, execution-oriented leadership
  🎯 Designed for scalable growth
  💬 Strategy translated into daily operations

Tania Jacobsen, Founder

Tania Jacobsen brings deep operational and executive leadership experience, working closely with teams to ensure strategy turns into clear, scalable execution.

ducAlto

What they do:
ducAlto provides high-caliber fractional COO services for tech startups, SaaS companies, and scaling enterprises.

Who they work with:
Tech-driven organizations seeking operational rigor and data-driven decision-making.

Operating model:
Embedded fractional COO leadership combining automation, risk management, and business intelligence.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Strong data-driven operational frameworks
  ⚡ Expertise in automation and BI
  🎯 Built for scalable, tech-enabled growth
  💬 Future-ready operational systems

Matthew Hanley, Founder

Matthew Hanley combines strategic insight with operational expertise, helping teams build efficient, scalable systems while embedding directly to ensure measurable execution.

Allura Partners

What they do:
Allura Partners offers fractional COO solutions focused on strengthening leadership, operations, and execution while maintaining agility.

Who they work with:
Growth-stage companies seeking clarity, structure, and measurable results.

Operating model:
Fractional COO leadership backed by executive search and strategic advisory expertise.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Strong leadership and change management focus
  ⚡ Data-driven operational insight
  🎯 Executive-level strategic alignment
  💬 Clear, measurable operational outcomes

Adrian Belle, Founder

Adrian brings deep industry knowledge and a hands-on approach. He specialises in aligning leadership, strategy, and operations to deliver clarity, structure, and scalable execution.

The Artisans

What they do:
The Artisans deliver fractional COO services with a focus on innovation, creativity, and operational excellence.

Who they work with:
Retail, hospitality, eCommerce, and creative-driven businesses.

Operating model:
Fractional COO leadership emphasizing adaptability, process design, and growth planning.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Creative problem-solving meets operational rigor
  ⚡ Multi-industry expertise
  🎯 Ideal for innovation-led teams
  💬 Turns ideas into scalable operations

Nicole Smith, Founder

Nicole specialises in turning creative ideas into operational realities. Her approach emphasises adaptability, strategic clarity, and embedding with teams to deliver innovative solutions that scale

Lion Digital

What they do:
Lion Digital offers fractional COO services for digital businesses, eCommerce brands, and high-growth startups.

Who they work with:
Digital-first companies scaling operations alongside marketing and analytics.

Operating model:
Fractional COO leadership aligned with digital transformation and automation.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Strong eCommerce and digital ops expertise
  ⚡ Analytics-driven decision-making
  🎯 End-to-end digital operational alignment
  💬 Built for performance and scale

Leo Comino, Founder

Leo brings hands-on operational leadership with a focus on digital growth. He helps teams build systems and strategies that support scale, efficiency, and long-term success.

Spekd

Spek'd | Fractional COO | LinkedIn

What they do
Spekd is a fractional operations and marketing studio supporting creative and mission-driven businesses.

Who they work with:
Fast-growing, values-led creative teams.

Operating model:
Collaborative fractional COO and operations leadership.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Deep creative operations expertise
  ⚡ Strong people and systems focus
  🎯 Culture-first operational design
  💬 Clarity without killing creativity

Sarah Clayton & Aly Nicolau, Co-Founders of Spekd

Sarah Clayton bringsexpertise in creative operations, communications strategy, and process transformation, with experience across agency, corporate, and nonprofit environments. She’s known for cutting through complexity and aligning teams around what truly matters.

Aly Nicolau brings over 15 years of leadership experience, specialising in systems, people operations, and scalable infrastructure. Her strength lies in translating operational chaos into sustainable clarity—particularly within creative and mission-driven organisations.

Together, Sarah and Aly have built Spekd into a standout model for collaborative fractional work.

Independent Execs

Integrator Services for EOS Run Businesses | Independent Executives

What they do:
Independent Execs provides senior-level fractional executives who embed quickly to drive strategic and operational results.

Who they work with:
Mid-market and growth-stage businesses across multiple industries.

Operating model:
Embedded fractional executive leadership with cross-functional impact.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Deep bench of senior operators
  ⚡ Proven change leadership
  🎯 Measurable impact across margin and morale
  💬 Leaders who execute

Dylan Rowland, Partner at Independent Execs

Dylan Rowland is a fractional COO and strategic advisor with over two decades of experience across strategy and operations. He works across professional services, retail, and fintech, embedding quickly to lead meaningful change.

Marcos Morastico

What they do:
Marcos Morastico provides highly customized fractional COO services tailored to each organization’s unique needs.

Who they work with:
Businesses seeking personalized operational leadership and strategic frameworks.

Operating model:
One-to-one fractional COO engagement focused on workflow optimization and strategic execution.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Highly personalized approach
  ⚡ Strong focus on team alignment
  🎯 Custom-built operational solutions
  💬 No one-size-fits-all playbooks

Marcos Morastico, Fractional COO

Marcos partners closely with leadership teams to design tailored operational systems that improve performance and long-term scalability.

sc3sixty

sc3sixty logo

What they do:
sc3sixty provides fractional CFO and COO leadership to consumer and FMCG brands, helping founders and leadership teams build scalable financial and operational foundations.

Who they work with:
Growth-stage and established FMCG, retail, and consumer brands across Australia and New Zealand navigating scale, complexity, or operational change.

Operating model:
Embedded fractional CFO & COO support spanning financial strategy, operational planning, supply chain, and transformation initiatives—delivered as an extension of the leadership team.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Deep FMCG and retail supply chain expertise
  ⚡ Combines financial rigor with operational execution
  🎯 Built for scaling, turnaround, and complexity management
  💬 Practical, hands-on leadership without full-time overhead

Joel Alderden, Fractional CFO & COO

Joel Alderden brings extensive experience across finance, operations, and supply chain leadership. Through sc3sixty, he helps consumer brands gain clarity, remove bottlenecks, and build systems that support sustainable growth with confidence and control.

Michael Watkins

What they do:
Michael Watkins provides fractional COO services and venture-building support for early-stage startups.

Who they work with:
Founders navigating their first real phase of growth.

Operating model:
Founder-first, hands-on fractional COO support focused on early systems and execution.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Deep early-stage startup experience
  ⚡ Serial founding team operator
  🎯 Strong GTM and execution focus
  💬 Ideal for first-time scaling founders

Michael Watkins, Fractional COO

Michael Watkins is a fractional COO and venture builder who works closely with startups and scale-ups on operations, strategy, and go-to-market readiness. A serial founding team member, he specialises in early-stage execution and operational foundations.

Craig Harris SaaS Growth Advisory & Consulting

Craig Harris SaaS Growth Advisory & Consulting logo

What they do:
Craig Harris provides fractional COO and transformation consulting for complex organizations.

Who they work with:
Boards and executive teams in enterprise and mid-market environments.

Operating model:
Fractional COO leadership focused on structured transformation and modernization.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Strong board-level experience
  ⚡ Structured, consensus-driven approach
  🎯 Ideal for complex change initiatives
  💬 Operational rigor at scale

Craig Harris, Fractional COO

Craig Harris is a fractional COO and transformation consultant with deep experience across enterprise and mid-market environments. He works closely with boards and executive teams navigating operational complexity and business model change.

My GrowthAlly

My GrowthAlly logo

What they do:
My GrowthAlly provides fractional and outsourced General Manager (GM) and COO leadership to small and mid-sized businesses, helping owners drive growth, improve performance, and regain operational control.

Who they work with:
Growth-focused small and medium-sized businesses whose founders are stretched thin and need experienced leadership support without hiring full-time executives.

Operating model:
Embedded fractional GM and COO services covering operations, finance, people, and growth initiatives—working alongside owners to lead priorities and deliver results.

💡 Why they stand out:
  ✨ Owner-aligned leadership that steps in, not just advises
  ⚡ Strong focus on operational efficiency and execution
  🎯 Supports growth, change, and business stabilisation
  💬 Practical, hands-on management across the business

Linda Fernandez, Founder

Linda Fernandez partners with business owners to remove operational bottlenecks, strengthen leadership capability, and build scalable systems. Through My GrowthAlly, she helps founders move from overwhelm to clarity—supporting sustainable growth and confident decision-making.

Jade Bell

Startup Operations Partner

About Jade Bell:
Jade Bell is a startup operator and fractional COO with experience across tech, SaaS, and product-led businesses. She specialises in helping early-stage founders move from reactive firefighting to proactive operations.

Key Services:

  • Fractional COO support for startups
  • Operations and systems setup
  • Founder support and execution planning
  • Growth-stage operational readiness

Why Choose Jade Bell?
When everything feels like too much, Jade brings calm, clarity, and momentum. She’s especially effective in fast-moving startup environments that need structure—without slowing down.

Want to Go Deeper?

If this list got your gears turning, we recommend exploring these pieces next:

These guides break down not just the who but the how behind the rise of fractional operations—and what it means for scaling teams.

Final Thoughts: Operational Transparency in the Talent Ecosystem

At Digital Reference, we believe in radical transparency when hiring fractional executives. Before choosing a fractional COO, businesses should:

  • Check References – Ensure they have a proven track record with verifiable client success stories.
  • Assess Executive Fit – Understand the specific executives who will be working on your project and evaluate their expertise.
  • Demand Measurable Results – Work with a data-driven COO who can deliver clear, actionable improvements.

Check Out Our Global and National Directories of Fractional COO Services

Canada - Fractional & Virtual COO Services

From Toronto to Vancouver, Canadian companies are tapping outsourced COOs to manage growth while staying lean and compliant. These firms stand out for operational excellence across sectors.

India - Fractional & Virtual COO Services

India’s startup and enterprise growth stories are fueled by execution. Our picks here lead the way in fractional leadership, process optimization, and ops-as-a-service solutions.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Fractional & Virtual COO Services

As Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue attracting global business, these COO firms are helping organizations operationalize scale in high-growth, high-regulation markets.

United Kingdom (UK) - Fractional & Virtual COO Services

From London fintech to Midlands manufacturers, these UK-based COO providers are balancing legacy systems with modern scalability for today’s hybrid enterprises.

United States (USA) - Fractional & Virtual COO Services

The U.S. market demands operational leadership that can flex—fast. These top agencies and fractional executives bring scalable systems, cross-functional savvy, and startup-to-scaleup experience.

Start your journey today by reaching out to one of these top-tier COO agencies and take your business operations to the next level !

By selecting the right fractional COO agency, businesses in Australia can benefit from top-tier executive leadership without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.

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