Why the Chief of Staff role is back in trend
Once seen as a catch-all title and eclipsed by specialist hiring, the Chief of Staff role is resurging as organisations grapple with rising complexity, cross-functional initiatives and distributed teams. Acting as a central hub, it delivers alignment and execution leverage without adding hierarchy, while doubling as a powerful “CEO-in-training” pathway with board-level exposure. HR leaders are especially well-suited to thrive here: they’re already trusted advisers, seasoned in change management and equipped with the EQ to navigate competing priorities and personalities. In short, the Chief of Staff has become a strategic catalyst for agility, leadership development and outcomes, and HR professionals have the toolkit to make it count.
