Chief of Staff
Multiplies the CEO: priorities protected, exec committee orchestrated, strategic projects driven in their name, organization aligned.
Why this hire matters.
The CEO's time and attention are the company's most constrained resource — the Chief of Staff exists to multiply their yield. They prepare and follow up exec-committee decisions, drive the projects the CEO can't carry but can't delegate to a department (fundraise, reorganization, sensitive topics), move information both ways and tell the CEO what nobody else dares to. Hired well, they make the CEO better; poorly framed, they become a screen between the leader and the teams — the role's main risk. Two hiring rules: total interpersonal trust (it's a person hire, not a CV hire), and an explicit mandate with an exit trajectory — the best CoS serve 2-3 years then take a major operational role.
Key missions.
- Prepare and orchestrate leadership rituals (exec committee, board)
- Drive the CEO's strategic projects (fundraise, reorg, M&A)
- Protect and structure the CEO's priorities
- Track decisions and their execution
- Move information between leadership and teams
- Write strategic documents (board decks, memos)
- Be the leader's confidential sparring partner
Skills.
Technical skills
- Analysis and modeling
- Executive writing (memos, board decks)
- Complex project management
- Full business understanding
Expected qualities
- Absolute trust and discretion
- Judgment
- Candor with power
- Humility (the role serves, it doesn't shine)
Common stack
Salaries 2025-2026
| Level | Experience | Annual gross base |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (ex-consulting, 3-5 yrs XP) | 3-5 yrs | 54–65 k€ |
| Mid-level | 5-8 yrs | 65–80 k€ |
| Senior | 8-12 yrs | 80–100 k€ |
| Late-stage CoS | 12+ yrs | 100–150 k€ |
Paris market ranges, 2025-2026.
Outside the Paris region, expect 10 to 15 % less.
Sources : Glassdoor Paris 2026 (moyenne 82k) · Licorne Society 2026 (65-120k) · elinoi 2026
Hiring this profile.
Typical background
Strategy consulting, banking, or a brilliant operator spotted internally. Chemistry with the CEO decides everything — test it at length.
When to hire
When the CEO becomes their own company's bottleneck — typically Series B+, exec committee formed, saturated agenda.
Career path
CoS (2-3 years) → Head of/GM/COO, founder, or department VP.