This CEO is on his 4th chief of staff in 5 years — by choice

Covista CEO Steve Beard recently hired his fourth chief of staff. Eric Ogden Covista CEO Steve Beard treats the chief of staff role as a rotating post, not a permanent job. He said the first one he hired told him he talked too much in meetings — feedback he welcomed. The downside, Beard said, is having to replace someone performing at the peak of their abilities. Most chiefs of staff don't stick around for very long. Covista CEO Steve Beard sees that as a feature, not a bug. Since taking the helm at the healthcare education giant five years ago, Beard has appointed four chiefs of staff, with a few months of overlap between hires to preserve continuity. He treats the role as a leadership rotation rather than a permanent job, bringing in people with backgrounds that match his evolving needs.