PEX Network’s key takeaways:
- The new governor of New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill, has named Kellie Doucette as chief operating officer (COO) to lead operational excellence (OPEX) across the state.
- The role will include serving as the governor’s principal advisor on strategic initiatives, operational performance, and organizational effectiveness.
- “Establishing a COO within the Office of the Governor will provide the leadership needed to drive OPEX and ensure taxpayer resources translate into real results for New Jerseyans,” Sherrill stated.
The governor of New Jersey Mikie Sherrill, who was inaugurated this week, has named Kellie Doucette as new chief operating officer (COO) to lead OPEX across the state.
Sherrill said the duties of the job will include serving as the governor’s principal advisor on strategic initiatives, operational performance, and organizational effectiveness. Doucette will also lead the governor’s efforts to improve customer service and “streamline” permitting and regulatory processes across the state government.
“Establishing a COO within the Office of the Governor will provide the leadership needed to drive OPEX and ensure taxpayer resources translate into real results for New Jerseyans,” Sherrill stated.
COO to drive OPEX across the state of New Jersey
In her new role, Doucette will establish cross-departmental and interdisciplinary working groups to:
- Champion customer experience improvements that make New Jersey government more user-friendly for residents and businesses.
- Drive operational transformations that modernize government services, enhance organizational performance, and improve service delivery.
- Simplify and streamline government processes and regulations to reduce burdens on and improve outcomes for residents and businesses while maintaining essential protections.
- Streamline and expedite the permitting, review, and approval process across agencies to reduce project delays and costs.
- Lead performance management processes to monitor the development and progress of priority initiatives.
The COO will drive cross-agency coordination across strategic priorities and operational transformation efforts, including coordinating with the New Jersey Innovation Authority to develop and deliver strategic operational priorities, Sherrill added.
Sherill also established two new offices within the Office of the COO – the Strategic Initiatives and Economic Opportunity Office and the Operational Performance Office:
- The Strategic Initiatives and Economic Opportunity Office shall be responsible for supporting the implementation of the governor’s strategic priorities and economic growth and affordability goals.
- The Operational Performance Office will be responsible for working with state partners improving government processes in areas such as customer experience, procurement modernization, transparent and capability-based budgeting, digital services, and state workforce.
Register for All Access: Business Transformation 2026!
Delivering on key issues in New Jersey
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) stated that the executive order lines up with a “blueprint” that they proposed for whoever won the governor election last year.
“As Gov. Sherrill campaigned on, this executive order should bring a more robust structure within all departments to bring about more organization and support for the state’s economic opportunities,” said Michele Siekerka, president and CEO of NJBIA.
In total, Sherrill signed six executive orders this week. “In the Navy, I learned that you have to lead, follow, or get out of the way – and I promised the people of New Jersey that I would be on a mission to deliver starting day one,” she said. “That’s why I’m beginning my term as governor by taking immediate action to deliver on some of the key issues impacting New Jerseyans.”