Why you should hire a former strategy consultant for your chief of staff role

Chief of staff positions have gained traction in the corporate world, especially in private equity portfolio companies where senior leaders benefit from having a right hand to execute big initiatives like go-to-market transformation.

Candidates from either strategy consulting or investment banking backgrounds make choice hires for the private equity chief of staff position, but ex-consultants specifically have helped redefine the scope of this role and what it’s capable of.

In this article, we share a brief history of the chief of staff position, explain why ex-consultants make great candidates and give financial insight into how these roles are compensated.

The rise of the strategic chief of staff position

Organizations are increasingly using the chief of staff role beyond its traditional administrative and liaison functions. While the position has often focused on connecting the C-suite with the broader team, delegating tasks and handling operations, many companies are now elevating it to drive critical strategic initiatives.

The strategic chief of staff differs from the traditional model by being more deeply involved in shaping organizational direction. Executives such as CEOs and chief strategy officers rely on this role to deliver insights, interpret data and ensure initiatives align with key performance indicators and long-term objectives.

Because they bridge planning with execution, strategic chiefs of staff are often brought into high-level decision making to ensure feasibility and organizational alignment. Ultimately, the position is gaining traction as a critical driver of strategy, serving as a launching pad for future senior leadership roles such as chief strategy officer or P&L owner.

The benefit of hiring an ex-consultant as your next chief of staff

Ex-consultants’ background in structured problem solving and analytics equips them to take complex initiatives and turn them into clear, actionable strategy. They know how to pressure test ideas, anticipate risks and align execution with performance goals that matter most in a private equity environment. But most importantly to this role, they are excellent communicators.

Ex-consultants know how to effectively communicate strategy to boards, investors and senior leaders while also making sure the operating teams on “the shop floor” understand exactly what is expected of them.

This ability to adapt messaging prevents initiatives from being diluted as they move through the company. By keeping communication clear and execution consistent, they serve as a critical link between strategy and results in fast-moving environments.

Compensation reflects the growing value of the role

According to the 2025 Chief of Staff Compensation Report for Strategy Consultants, base salaries for post-MBA-level chief of staff roles often fall between $215,000 and $300,000, with bonuses ranging from 12%-75% of base pay. On top of that, equity packages at exit can be significant, with several offers including potential seven-figure payouts.

This pay structure makes it clear that companies are willing to invest heavily in individuals who can bring both strategic discipline and operational execution. For ex-consultants, strong compensation reflects not only their ability to solve problems and drive growth but also the central role they play in ensuring strategic initiatives deliver results.

For anyone planning to hire a strategic chief of staff:

Titling varies for chief of staff positions. We’ve seen organizations hire ex-consultants for what is essentially a chief of staff under titles like:

– Vice president of strategy

– Vice president of strategic initiatives

– Vice president of transformation

– Vice president of business development and strategy

Additionally, you should weigh the value of industry experience against consulting tenure during your search. While most strategic chiefs of staff left their consulting firm after several years of post-MBA consulting, pre-MBA consultants can meet the mark.

For example, in a search we conducted for a private equity-backed health tech firm, the winning candidate left consulting before earning their MBA but had spent nearly all their time in the healthcare industry, giving them the proper insight to lead in this role.

Also know that many candidates see the chief of staff position as a launchpad for more senior strategy roles. Most of the candidates we speak with have C-suite ambitions, and the most valuable strategy hires can even graduate to fund-level positions if they join the private equity space at the portfolio level, becoming an operator or even a partner (though this is rarer).

No matter how you plan to utilize your chief of staff hire, bringing an ex-consultant to lead strategy will almost always have a positive effect on business outcomes and cultural cohesion.

To learn more, contact Blaine Ayres at (336) 217-9140 or blaine.ayres@charlesaris.com.