A quiet river winding through open countryside

Senior Operational Support · Fractional COO

I give leaders room to focus.

It's less about fixing things, and more about the small, well-placed change that frees up real time.

20 years supporting senior leaders and business owners

Scaled operations as the team grew from 20 to nearly 70

Built a newly created role

Anita Henderson

Anita Henderson

Senior Operational Support · Fractional COO

About

I work with founder-led and mission-driven organisations as a senior operational partner, providing leadership and oversight without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

I bring structure, clarity and calm to day-to-day operations, so founders and leadership teams can focus on strategy, delivery and impact.

With over 20 years across charities, founder-led businesses and regulated environments, I bring discretion, judgement and the ability to work in close partnership with senior leaders from day one.

Where I add value

01

Delivery & Execution

Turn strategy into clear plans, maintain visibility of progress, and strengthen accountability across teams.

02

Operational Clarity

Clarify roles, improve the flow of work, and introduce simple systems that support visibility.

03

Stability & Sustainability

Maintain consistency through growth or transition, and make sure improvements are sustained over time.

What changes when I’m there

A calmer, more joined-up way of working.

Before

  • Things feel busy, but priorities aren't clear.
  • Too much operational detail sits with leadership.
  • Ownership is spread, and things fall between the gaps.

After

  • Clearer ownership of priorities, and visibility across the organisation.
  • Leadership freed from day-to-day detail to focus on strategy.
  • Things feel calmer, more joined up and easier to keep moving.

Case studies

Selected work.

Recent operational work, and the difference it made.

Ways we can work together

Senior operational support, sized to fit, only when you need it.

Ongoing fractional leadership

Steady operational leadership, typically one to two days per week, embedded alongside your team.

Project-based improvement

A defined piece of operational improvement, scoped and delivered end to end.

Short-term interim support

An experienced pair of hands during change, transition or periods of real pressure.

How I work

I'm known for being reliable and calm, and for having good judgement. I'm at my best bringing order to complexity: simplifying processes, spotting where time can be saved, and clearing the bottlenecks and duplication that quietly slow everyone down.

Transparency and honesty.

I'll always tell you what I think. You deserve a clear picture, not a comfortable one.

Dependability.

When I take something on, I see it through. You won't need to chase me for updates or wonder where things stand.

Co-creation.

Changes that are built together are more likely to work and to last, so I work alongside teams to shape solutions rather than imposing them without consultation.

Discretion.

Working closely with founders and senior leaders means being trusted with information that affects others, and I take that seriously.

Get in touch

Let's talk about where you need support.

Tell me where the pressure is, and I'll tell you honestly how I can help.

Email me

Available for project-based and fractional work.