Duke of Sussex's chief of staff quits after three months

By Victoria Ward

The Duke of Sussex's chief of staff has quit after three months.

Josh Kettler, who was hired on a trial basis, has left his position in a mutual decision made by himself and the duke. Both sides "agreed it wasn't the right fit", sources said.

Mr Kettler started in the role a week before Prince Harry and Meghan's visit to Nigeria in May.

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He also accompanied the duke on his trip to London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

The timing of his departure will be a blow to the Sussexes as it comes just ahead of their four-day tour of Colombia, which begins this week.

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It also highlights the problems the couple have had experienced in attracting and retaining the right staff.

Mr Kettler, who is based in Santa Barbara, California, where the Duke and Duchess live, was hired to "guide (Prince Harry) through his next phase".

He was previously chief of staff and head of strategic partnerships at communication platform Cognixion.

He had previously spent more than a decade working for outdoor clothing company Patagonia and then a year at the San Francisco-based Better Place Forests.

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He describes himself on LinkedIn as "an experienced executive accelerator, organiser and confidant".

He is also an avid trail runner, skier and a "steadfast supporter of conservation and the environment".

The Sussexes will shortly be flying to the Colombian capital, Bogotá, for their second joint international tour since quitting royal duties and moving to the US. The visit will also include stops in Cartagena and Cali.

Francia Márquez, Colombia's vice-president and the first black woman to hold the position, said in a statement: "As the vice-president of Colombia and minister of equality and equity, I am pleased to announce that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country.

"In these vibrant locations, they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress."

Whereas the couple's recent visit to Nigeria was centred on the Invictus Games, in Colombia they will focus on their campaign for safer digital environments ahead of the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, hosted by the country in November.

The Sussexes' previous chief of staff was Catherine St-Laurent, a former adviser to Bill and Melinda Gates, who joined Archewell in April 2020 but left after barely a year, despite resigning from a highly sought-after role advising Mrs Gates's Pivotal Ventures social progress project to take up the post.

At the time, it was suggested that she had simply come to the end of her fixed one-year contract and had "transitioned" to become a senior adviser to the Sussexes.

James Holt, the Sussexes' former communications director, took over the role as he was named executive director of Archewell, a position he retains.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed the duchess is searching for a chief executive officer for American Riviera Orchard, her new commercial venture, but has yet to find the right person.

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