Ryan Werffeli

About

COO at Malk Partners who led a ~75-person org and managed a 6-month sell-side diligence process while still delivering growth targets. Known for building executive alignment and accountability through clear KPIs, strong 1:1 operating rhythms (including N-2s), and board-level strategy projects, and for scaling planning processes by pushing AOP ownership to business unit leaders with templates and coaching.

Experience

Education

Key Strengths

• COO leadership of ~75-person organization with ~7 direct reports
• Led a 6-month sell-side diligence process while simultaneously delivering growth targets
• Builds alignment through high-communication partnership with CEO/founder and clear division of responsibilities
• Creates autonomy by communicating the rationale (“why”) and maintaining strong 1:1 operating cadence (including N-2s)
• Improved executive productivity by democratizing annual operating planning to business unit leaders with templates and hands-on enablement
• Protects strategic time via calendar blocking and formal strategy projects with board-level outputs
• Drives accountability with clear KPIs, role definitions, and structured performance management (PIPs/termination when needed)

Reference Highlights

• Balances executive and delivery teams effectively
• Provides operational and strategic insights
• Data-driven and analytically rigorous
• Invites perspectives and fosters productive discussion
• Brings cross-division context to leadership decisions
• Strong at translating financial and operational insights into next steps
• Effective in high-pressure, high-ambiguity environments
• Strong at handling competing priorities
• Able to triage quickly amid sudden new responsibilities
• Builds systems to ensure work gets done
• Builds trust through strong personal relationships
• Direct communicator who reduces ambiguity
• Great question asker; improves others' thinking through active listening
• Led organization through rapid growth and major transitions (layoffs, investment, acquisition)
• Drove go-to-market transformation (new client engagement model, pricing changes)
• Improved client relationships using gathered feedback
• Improved utilization and increased revenue with same employee base
• Strong executive presence; impactful with diverse personalities
• Willing to step up across a diverse set of responsibilities