Healthcare has had the lowest COO turnover in 2026 out of all industries tracked in the 2026 “Mid-year Volatility Report” from executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates.
The executive recruiting firm tracks the backgrounds and turnover of C-suite executives across 665 Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies, 9.7% of which are healthcare organizations. The most recent report covers Jan. 1, 1996, through July 31, 2026.
Across 665 companies in the Fortune 500 and S&P 500, there were 26 total COO turnovers. Here is the percentage of COO turnovers through July 31 by industry:
Financial: 19.2%
Services: 19.2%
Consumer: 19.2%
Industrial: 15.4%
Technology: 15.4%
Energy: 7.7%
Healthcare: 3.8%
Here are two more notes on COOs in 2026, per Crist Kolder Associates:
1. The utilization of COOs across Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies has remained consistent over the past 10 years at an average of 35.8%. Of the 665 companies, there were 254 sitting COOs. Of the companies studied, 37.2% had COOs in 2026, down from 38.1% in 2025 and from a high of 39.6% in 2022, but up from the 35.3% share in 2016.
2. The majority — 84.6% — of COO appointments in 2026 at the companies studied were internal promotions. Notable changes include Stryker, according to the report, where Spencer Stiles was appointed president and COO, effective Jan. 1. He had most recently served as group president of orthopedics and spine.
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