Chief of Staff - MD & CEO Office - IIM/XLRI/SPJIMR/FMS

About the Role: We are looking for an exceptional Chief of Staff to the MD & CEO to partner closely with the leadership team in driving strategic priorities, business transformation and organization-wide initiatives. This is a high-impact leadership role for a seasoned professional who can operate at the intersection of strategy, business operations, transformation and execution, with the ability to work closely with the MD & CEO on some of the organization's most critical priorities. The ideal candidate will bring strong business acumen, structured problem-solving, executive presence and the ability to translate strategic intent into measurable business outcomes. Key Responsibilities: - Act as a strategic partner to the MD & CEO on business-critical priorities and strategic initiatives. - Drive CEO-sponsored strategic projects from problem definition and analysis through execution and closure. - Partner with senior leadership across functions to drive growth, transformation, operational excellence and organizational effectiveness. - Lead cross-functional programs involving multiple business functions and ensure alignment, accountability and timely execution. - Develop business insights through data-driven analysis, market intelligence and structured problem-solving to support leadership decision-making. - Support the MD & CEO in annual business planning, strategic reviews, performance management and organizational priorities. - Establish governance mechanisms to track strategic initiatives, KPIs, milestones and outcomes. - Identify opportunities for process improvement, business efficiency and scalable operating models. - Prepare executive-level presentations, business reviews, dashboards and strategic recommendations for the leadership team. - Work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure effective communication, alignment and execution of key decisions. - Bring structure and clarity to ambiguous, high-priority business problems and independently drive them to resolution. Ideal Candidate: - 10+ years of overall experience with significant experience in Strategy, Management Consulting, CEO/MD Office, Founder's Office, Business Operations, Transformation or General Management. - MBA from a Tier-1 / premium B-School such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, ISB, XLRI, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, JBIMS or equivalent. - Experience working directly with CXOs / MD / CEO / Founders on strategic and business-critical initiatives. - Strong understanding of business strategy, financial and operational metrics, growth levers and organizational performance. - Exceptional structured thinking, analytical ability and problem-solving skills. - Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders. - Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional initiatives without direct authority. - Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous and high-accountability environment. - Strong proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint and data-driven business analysis.