Ben Kozy

Co-founder & COO

Operating Co. is a forward-deployed AI firm that embeds senior operators (Forward Deployed Operators/FDOs) and production engineers inside PE portfolios and mid-market to enterprise companies. We diagnose the highest-ROI opportunities alongside your team, ship working tools and workflows in weeks (not slideware in months), then harden what works to production-grade so it sticks. Operators who build; engineers who ship.

Founder & Fractional COO

OpsRay is an operations practice for PE- and VC-backed companies. Embedded operating leadership for businesses that need senior ops horsepower without a full-time COO. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀: • Fractional COO: embedded part-time, ongoing • Interim COO: between leaders or as you plan for your first full-time COO • Project-based: defined scope, specific outcomes (e.g., procurement diagnostic) Operator, not consultant.

Advisor

Chief Operating Officer

🤖 AI-native logistics startup, where I regularly discussed, prioritized, and implemented AI initiatives for our internal teams and our customers 🟢 Led global operations across three continents, driving improvements in efficiency, service quality, and cost-to-serve 🟢 Built scalable processes and operating models that enabled substantial growth across multiple geographies, customer segments, and service offerings 🟢 Led a high-performing operations organization anchored in analytics-driven decision-making, workflow automation, operational scorecards, continuous improvement, and talent development 🟢 Partnered cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Revenue to translate customer insights into automated workflows and more consistent operational execution

Engagement Manager

🎓 Part of the "Recruiting" and "Cultivation" groups for 3 years ➡️ I administered over 100 interviews across dozens of MBA and undergrad campuses during interview season 🟢 Led large-scale operational transformations for industrial, logistics, and services clients, combining operational and financial analysis to unlock margin, throughput, and service-level improvements 🟢 Redesigned complex networks and production systems to eliminate bottlenecks, strengthen asset utilization, and improve overall reliability across multi-site operations 🟢 Directed cross-functional teams of consultants and client leaders, partnering closely with C-suite stakeholders to translate strategy into executable operating models and capability-building programs 🟢 Built capacity, production-planning, and workforce models that improved operational stability and optimized resource allocation in manufacturing and logistics environments 🟢 Delivered end-to-end performance-improvement programs, driving process standardization, waste reduction, and enhanced operational effectiveness for global clients 🟢 Developed strategic sourcing and should-cost models for an industrial client, strengthening negotiation leverage and improving procurement and vendor-management discipline

Associate

Summer Associate

Senior Consultant

Business Analyst