What is WCOOC?
Armstrong Wolfe’s Women in the COO Community (WCOOC) initiative has been running since 2017 and is now well-established in New York, Toronto, London, Hong Kong and Singapore with members from over thirty different organisations.
Our commitment to this initiative was born out of the privileged position we have in accessing the COO community through our global forums and
executive search network.
Led by Armstrong Wolfe, a series of cross industry forums and leadership forums will take place throughout 2021.
What is our purpose?
Our purpose is to provide the opportunity for senior women in business management to connect and to help promote the cause of
leadership for all women and underrepresented
groups across Financial Services.
What is our mission?
To inspire women and underrepresented groups in Financial Services to have no limit to their aspirations.
To educate women and underrepresented groups on business management and the COO role as career destinations.
To establish exclusive and confidential networking opportunities with peers.
To establish a cross-industry business dialogue to address common challenges.
Newly Appointed WCOOC Ambassadors
'I refuse to believe that women do not have the potential to achieve success at the highest levels of business given their proven academic achievements and business contributions and yet, we continue to see the gender gap persisting. Our customers, shareholders and communities are being failed because businesses are not tapping into the full, representative talent pool available to them, being unconsciously (or consciously) trapped by biases and held back by the legacy overhang of accepted practices. I've been an active member of the Armstrong Wolfe WCOOC for a number of years and love how it brings individuals together, agnostic of organisation and geography, to collaborate, challenge accepted norms and share best practice with the common aim of improving diversity and inclusion and, in doing so, improving the outcomes for our clients, our shareholders and our communities as a whole. I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute more actively as a WCOOC Ambassador moving forward’
Helen Hughes-Green
MD, ICG Conduct, Citi, Former MD, CCO, Standard Chartered Bank
WCOOC Articles
In the Spotlight: Ronald Taylor, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Mizuho Americas
by Gwen Wilcox, MD, COO, WCOOC
Global Lead
In the Spotlight: Vanessa Eastham Fisk, full time Independent Non-Executive & Board Advisor
by Gwen Wilcox, MD, COO, WCOOC
Global Lead
In the Spotlight: Laura Ahto, Non-Executive Director & Advisor
by Gwen Wilcox, MD, COO, WCOOC
Global Lead
WCOOC Ambassadors
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Driving WCOOC Forward
Gwen Wilcox is the Armstrong Wolfe Chief Operating Officer and the Global Head of Women in the COO Community initiative where she leads on the programming and speaker acquisition.
Gwen Wilcox
MD, COO, WCOOC Global Lead
Kate leads Armstrong Wolfe’s Career Management practice. With over 20 years’
experience in resourcing and HR, much of Kate’s career has been spent in the financial sector working with corporate clients on a range of strategies to ensure they attract top talent.
Kate Hutchins
UK Practice Head,
Career Management
Miia is the APAC Practice Head for Armstrong Wolfe’s career management service
and its Women in the COO Community initiative in Asia. She is based in Singapore. In this role, Miia leverages her corporate experience which she has acquired over multiple business cycles to relate to clients in different career stages and situations.
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Miia Lankinen
WCOOC Head & Career Management, Asia
WCOOC Steering Committee
Steering Committee from global banks supporting WCOOC and its Dnl initiatives
Loretta Marcoccia
Executive Vice President & COO, Global Banking and Markets, Scotiabank
Suzy White
Global COO Markets & Securities Services, HSBC
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Penny Tunbridge
MD, COO Advisory, Credit Suisse
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Louise Moat
MD, CO, Asia Pacific ex Japan, Investment Banking Division, Nomura
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Armstrong Wolfe are proud signatories of the Women in Finance Charter.
Despite being called ‘Women in the COO Community’, our mission is to promote all talent regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic background to leadership positions, and we are appreciative of the fact that best practice and true change must be a holistic effort and involve all members of the community. To improve D&I in the workplace, we have a strong board of ambassadors who contribute to our purpose of providing opportunities and the cause of leadership for all women and underrepresented groups across financial services.
Our career coaches and ambassadors consist of males and females (45% female, 55% male) to help accelerate this change across the wider Financial Services industry.
Armstrong Wolfe's senior management is 33% female, with the WCOOC management (Armstrong Wolfe employees) being 100% female.