The Chief of Staff Role Is Booming as Corporate Needs Shift

The evolution of the role is stark. Imax CEO Richard Gelfond initially hired his first chief of staff 16 years ago simply to manage his calendar and shadow his movements. As Imax scaled from 55 theaters in 2010 to nearly 2,000 today, the position morphed into a critical partnership. Gelfond now relies on this person to refine his own decision-making process and oversee the execution of company-wide initiatives.

This shift reflects a broader market trend where the chief of staff functions as a gatekeeper rather than a clerical aide. Clara Ma, founder of the networking site Ask a Chief of Staff, notes that while an assistant determines when a meeting occurs, a chief of staff determines whether that meeting deserves a place on the agenda at all. This difference in responsibility is reflected in compensation: while executive assistants in New York City earn a median salary of approximately $70,517, chief of staff roles typically command between $150,000 and $200,000.

Despite the popularity, some firms are rushing to fill these spots without clearly defining the scope of work. Catherine Berardi, who runs the matching firm Prime Executive Office, observes that many CEOs are simply following a trend rather than identifying a specific business need. Yet, when utilized correctly, these leaders provide the cross-divisional coordination required to navigate modern corporate pressures. Rather than fearing automation, effective chiefs of staff are actively integrating tools like AI into company workflows, ensuring that their role remains indispensable even as the technology they manage continues to advance.