The Power of Collective Ambition
At Armstrong Wolfe, we bring together the global COO community in financial services to tackle shared, non-proprietary challenges that shape the industry.
At Armstrong Wolfe, we bring together the global COO community in financial services to tackle shared, non-proprietary challenges that shape the industry.
Through our flagship initiatives – the International COO Community (iCOOC) and Women in the COO Community (WCOOC) – we deliver exclusive corporate membership programs designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and leadership within this critical professional network.
As a trusted partner, we facilitate high-quality, engaging discussions among our members, enabling meaningful peer-to-peer exchanges in a confidential environment governed by the Chatham House Rule. These conversations are enriched by insights from our industry advisors, alliance partners, and a global network of alumni.
The value lies in our unique ability to connect COOs across the financial services ecosystem, empowering them to share knowledge, navigate challenges, and drive meaningful change together.
An Overview of our Programme
Our programme facilitates meaningful, high-quality engagement among senior leaders in the financial services industry through curated discussions in intimate settings. These take place during exclusive dinners, breakfasts, or online forums, offering unparalleled opportunities to connect with influential decision-makers, thought leaders, and their deputies.
Round Table Discussions: At the heart of our programme are round table discussions tailored for:
- Chief Operating Officers (COOs)
- Chief Control Officers (CCOs)
- The COO to the Chief Risk Officer
- Heads of Compliance and Operational Risk
These discussions, driven by the community, delve into a diverse range of topics, including:
- Operational Resilience
- Non-Financial Risk
- AI and Innovation
- Managing Change and Transformation
- Regulatory Adoption and Risk Management
- Conduct and Culture
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)
- Talent Development
Focused Formats for Immediate Impact: In addition to round table sessions, we offer bespoke formats to address specific challenges and opportunities:
- Cluster Calls: Small, focused groups of 4–6 members collaborate on narrowly defined challenges or specialized topics.
- Broader Industry Debates: Larger forums bring together a cross-section of industry professionals to explore topics of shared interest and broader significance.
Our programme is designed to foster collaboration, spark innovation, and drive actionable insights, ensuring every discussion delivers value to our members and their organizations.
Membership
As a member of the iCOOC community, senior executives gain exclusive access to our roundtable discussions and the opportunity to host events on the iCOOC calendar. These interactions are conducted under Chatham House Rule, fostering a secure and trusted environment for open, candid conversations.
Our discussions are designed to:
- Deliver deep analysis and actionable insights
- Explore key considerations and innovative solutions
- Facilitate meaningful dialogue and debate across the COO community
Through iCOOC and our other forums, members can tap into a unique network of industry leaders, creating opportunities to collaborate on shared challenges and shape the future of the financial services industry.
The collective expertise of the community is pivotal in addressing some of the most pressing issues facing COOs today, including:
- Emerging Technologies: Crypto, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and AI
- Regulatory Landscape
- Geopolitical Risk Management
- Operational Resilience
As a member, you’re not just part of a network – you’re contributing to the development of effective, cross-industry solutions and driving meaningful change.
Participation Benefits
Membership provides a wide range of opportunities to engage with the iCOOC community and shape its direction. These benefits include, but are not limited to:
1. Engage in Events
- Attend exclusive programs such as roundtable dinners, online forums, and working groups.
- Take on active roles in events, including serving as a panellist, facilitator, or judge as opportunities arise.
2. Drive the Community Agenda
- Participate in steering committees to influence and drive the agenda of the COO community.
- Host iCOOC program events to highlight your company’s brand, showcase thought leadership and extend hospitality to peers.
3. Foster Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
- Provide thought leadership and insights, contributing your expertise to the broader COO community.
- Request Cluster Calls to spark vibrant discussions, exchange best practices, and explore topics of mutual interest with your peer network.
- Share articles, research, or other content through platforms like the Armstrong Wolfe COO Magazine, amplifying your voice within the industry.
4. Champion Diversity and Inclusion
- Actively support initiatives such as Women in the COO Community (WCOOC) and Ad Centrum, fostering greater diversity and inclusion within the financial services sector.
By participating, members not only enrich their own professional development but also contribute to the growth, innovation, and resilience of the global COO community.
Pricing
Armstrong Wolfe Membership operates on an annual agreement, running from January to December, and can be tailored to meet your organisation’s needs on a global or regional basis.
Membership benefits are extended to all qualified employees within the member firm, ensuring your team has access to unparalleled opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and leadership development.
To learn more about our pricing structure and how Armstrong Wolfe can support your goals, please contact us at .
Armstrong Wolfe Forums & Events 2025
In 2025, we are proud to offer our members an extensive program of 100 events, comprising 61 in-person gatherings and 39 online sessions.
We recognise the growing importance of online engagement in today’s business landscape, enabling us to connect our global community in real time for meaningful discussions. However, we firmly believe that in-person events remain the cornerstone of our community, fostering deeper connections, collaboration, and impactful engagement.
For more information about our membership or events program, please contact:
Banking: Maurice Evlyn-Bufton, CEO
Asset and Wealth Management: Terry Yodaiken, CAO
We look forward to welcoming you to Armstrong Wolfe in 2025 and helping you become an active part of our thriving global community.
Why become an iCOOC member?
Armstrong Wolfe provides leading, keynote industry speakers and strategic partners to provide thought leadership and solutions development to the COO community.
Gary Simpson
COO, Global Markets at ICBC Standard Bank
“Armstrong Wolfe has uniquely positioned itself as an effective conduit for the COO community to agree, discuss and take proactive measures to address the key themes and challenges facing the financial sector, both planned and unforeseen. By combining peer knowledge and perspectives with deep SMEs and solution providers, AW forums and events provide invaluable support to sell and buy side COOs.”
Mark Price
Regional Head of Financial Markets Africa & the Middle East, Global Head ofFM Business Development, Standard Chartered Bank
“Having been a COO in Markets for most of the last 20 years, Maurice and AW have been a key driver of providing definition and understanding of the ambiguous role the COO plays. More importantly, he has successfully created a sense of community (in particular through WCOOC) that has sped up the continued professionalisation of the COO role. Since meeting him at the very first Markets COO breakfast roundtable, through to discussing my recent shift into the business, his insight and perspective have been a big help to me and I’m sure to many other COO’s over the years.”
Steven Kiker
Chief Operating OfficerWells Fargo
“Maurice and the team at Armstrong Wolfe have been a great resource for our COO team at Wells Fargo. Their insight into critical issues that impact the COO community is invaluable and their ability to create a vast network of like-minded professionals across the financial services industry is something that our team finds great value in.”
Loretta Marcoccia
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating OfficerGlobal Banking and Markets,Scotiabank Banking and Markets
“At Scotiabank, we appreciate the work that Armstrong Wolfe has done to advance a shared understanding of the COO office across financial services, build awareness of the intersection of conduct, culture, purpose in an organization and to drive connection and collaboration across the global COO community.”
Jason Hope
General Manager, Business Controls,Monitoring and RemediationWestpac Institutional Bank
“More than a decade ago Armstrong Wolfe were the pioneers of bringing the globalbanking COO/CCO community together to discuss topical and emerging issues. As a result, they and their network are at the forefront of thought leadership in this space.”
Pascale Moreau
Global COO of Markets, Business,Transformation & OversightSociété Générale
“Under Maurice Evlyn-Buftons’ leadership, Armstrong Wolfe offers a broad view of market activities through the COO angle, looking at the strategic day-to-day actions that enable financial markets to function. It offers key insights from major market players on new trends and technologies, as well as interesting pointers for business development and transformations. Armstrong Wolfe’s Women in the COO Community (WCOOC) initiative actively engages with women in leadership and disruptive subjects linked to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Definitely a must have when belongingto the COO community.”
