Private Client · Principal Private Secretary
Principal Private Secretary search for UHNW principals.
The most senior personal-support role in a principal-led household. Retained, absolute discretion, senior-partner-led.
What the role is
A short definition.
A Principal Private Secretary is the senior personal-office lead for a UHNW principal. The role combines the calendar, correspondence and travel management of a senior EA with the discretion, judgement and standards of a Chief of Staff-adjacent role. In many principal-led offices the PPS sits alongside or reports to a Chief of Staff; in smaller offices the PPS covers both functions.
Core responsibilities
What we assess candidates against.
- Ownership of the principal’s calendar, correspondence and travel across three or more time zones
- Diplomatic and household coordination for external commitments, private engagements and philanthropic activity
- Preparation of briefing packs, meeting materials and follow-through on the principal’s standing commitments
- Personal-office administration: expenses, contracts, non-executive engagements, board memberships
- Interface with the Chief of Staff, Family Office CEO, Head of Security, Head of Household and external advisors
- Absolute confidentiality on every aspect of the principal’s life
When to run this search
Typical triggers.
On the retirement or departure of an incumbent PPS; when a principal transitions from a corporate CEO role to a family-office-led life and the PA function needs to grow into a PPS function; when a new residence, adjacent business or philanthropic vehicle expands the principal’s calendar beyond what the current team can hold.
How we search
The specific approach we take.
The market for PPSs to UHNW principals is small, largely off-limits and heavily driven by personal chemistry. We map across three overlapping pools: incumbent PPSs to comparable principals who may be approaching a transition, senior EAs to major CEOs / Chairs with long tenure and demonstrated discretion, and Royal Household or diplomatic-service alumni. Every candidate is met personally by the mandate partner and referenced deeply, with the candidate’s written consent, before any meeting with the principal.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Principal Private Secretary and a Senior EA?
A Senior EA is a functional role — calendar, correspondence, expenses, travel. A Principal Private Secretary is that plus judgement, discretion, external-representation on behalf of the principal, and a level of personal proximity that goes beyond scheduling. In many households the two titles are used interchangeably; where a distinction is drawn, PPS is the more senior of the two.
Do candidates typically have UHNW household experience?
Almost always. The judgement, discretion and standards required are not something a candidate can pick up in role. Every successful appointment we have made has come with prior comparable UHNW principal or Royal Household experience, or a diplomatic-service background of equivalent standard.
How long does the search take?
Ten to fourteen weeks from brief to accepted offer is typical, though longer where the principal is personally involved from shortlist stage. Chemistry checks with the principal often add two to three weeks.
How is compensation structured?
Base salary, discretionary bonus, and in most cases accommodation or a housing allowance. Compensation varies widely by household scope, international travel expectation and residential vs commuting pattern. UHNW PPS packages typically sit above the corporate senior-EA benchmark.
Is the role live-in or commuting?
Both patterns exist. Live-in or accommodation-provided arrangements are more common for internationally-travelling principals; commuting arrangements are more common for London-based principals with a defined weekday cadence. We calibrate against the specific brief.
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