Prince William suffers major blow as key staff member quits leaving royal scrambling in urgent CEO hunt
Prince William is currently hiring new staff members
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Prince William has suffered a major blow as his private secretary Jean-Christophe Gray is stepping down, making the search for a new CEO all the more urgent.
Gray is on secondment from Whitehall, according to reports, and will leave Kensington Palace in spring 2024.
The private secretary was hired by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2021 and had previously worked as a Treasury employee.
The Oxford and London School of Economics graduate was David Cameron's official spokesperson from 2012 to 2015.
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In addition, Gray had also worked for Alistair Darling, George Osborne and the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
The 47-year-old gave key advice to William during his transition from Duke of Cambridge to Prince of Wales.
According to reports, the private secretary wanted to return to his role at Whitehall.
Prince William and Princess Kate are now currently in need of a new staff member inside their household.
Prince William needs a new CEO
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The couple placed an online advert in September looking for an "emotionally intelligent" chief executive officer with a "low ego" to run their household.
The ad stated the new CEO would report directly to the royal couple - instead of the private secretary.
Kate and William stressed that the successful candidate must be "able to operate as a 'servant' leader, empowering the senior team".
The Prince and Princess of Wales's move has been viewed as a huge change in the royal household.
Kate and William put out a job advert in September
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Princess Kate and Prince William have always had a private secretary
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Until now, Kate and William's team has always been headed up by a Private Secretary.
A source told the Times: "Having a CEO placed above you isn't an optimal job scenario if you are JC and your title is no longer head of the household."