At Phipps Cameron, we’ve spent over a decade supporting PE-backed companies through complex transformations, integrations, and accelerated growth. As value creation timelines tighten, we’ve seen one role rise rapidly in strategic importance: the Chief of Staff.
Michele Vinciguerra leads our Transformation practice and works closely with funds and C-suites to identify the talent that drives results. In this thought piece, Michele unpacks why demand for Chiefs of Staff is surging – and how the right profile can unlock executive capacity, sharpen focus, and ensure strategy gets executed, not just discussed.
When navigating integration, rapid scaling and investor expectations, this role isn’t a luxury – it’s leverage.
What a Chief of Staff Actually Does
Think of the Chief of Staff as a high-leverage extension of your office: part strategic advisor, part operator, part communications lead. They don’t own functions in the way a COO or CFO does, but they do own outcomes, especially the ones that fall between the cracks.
Their job is to make sure your time is spent on what truly moves the needle, while ensuring your strategic priorities are clearly defined, communicated, and executed across the organisation.
Why It Matters in the Mid-Market Context
Most mid-sized PE-backed companies face the same challenges:
Here’s how a Chief of Staff can change the game:
01 - Create Focused Leadership Time
You can’t scale your time, but you can scale your impact. A CoS acts as your buffer and amplifier, handling prep for key meetings, managing internal and external communications, and ensuring your priorities are being executed, not just discussed.
They help you move from reactive to proactive leadership so you can spend more time on customers, growth, and strategic decisions.
02 - Drive Cross-Functional Execution
Most strategic priorities (e.g., pricing changes, system upgrades, geographic expansion) cut across multiple departments. But in many companies, no-one is accountable for stitching these pieces together.
That’s where your CoS comes in. They coordinate initiatives across functions, chase down blockers, and keep leadership teams aligned and accountable, ensuring nothing gets lost between silos.
03 - Turn Chaos Into Clarity
A good Chief of Staff builds internal systems that bring structure without red tape: consistent meeting cadences, leadership dashboards, clear OKRs or KPIs. These lightweight operating rhythms help create clarity across your team and surface issues early, before they become problems.
04 - Be the Conduit Between You and the Board
Let’s be honest: board decks, investor updates, and check-ins can be time-consuming. A CoS can own the process of producing clean, data-driven updates while making sure your messaging aligns with your strategic goals. They also help ensure board feedback is translated into internal action plans.
05 - Build a Scalable Leadership Pipeline
The CoS role isn’t just high-impact—it’s a great way to develop rising stars who understand the whole business. Many go on to become VPs, GMs, or even COOs. As you build your leadership bench for the next 12–24 months, a CoS can be both a game-changer now and a talent investment for the future.
Final Thought: The CoS Is Not a Luxury—It’s a Force Multiplier
In a PE-backed environment, execution is everything. A Chief of Staff gives you the ability to lead with more precision, run with more discipline, and scale without burning out your leadership team.
It’s not about adding more people. It’s about unlocking more leverage—from the seat you already occupy.
The Chief of Staff Role at Phipps Cameron
The Chief of Staff is a highly bespoke role, carefully tailored to the specific nature, needs, and strategic objectives of each portfolio company. At Phipps Cameron, we have been successfully evolving a strong network of Chief of Staff profiles for the past six years, with a strong emphasis on ensuring cultural alignment and operational impact.
To achieve this, we work with local country experts who possess deep market knowledge and a nuanced understanding of cultural dynamics. This approach enables us to identify candidates who are not only highly qualified but also the right fit for the unique context of each organization.
Interested in exploring how to structure or hire for a Chief of Staff role in your company? I can help you design a CoS job description or onboarding plan tailored to your goals. Just let me know.
Michele Vinciguerra, Head of Strategy and Transformation
