Onlyfans Ceo Keily Blair Shakes Things Up By Ditching Middle Management

Keily Blair’s Bold Management Strategy

Keily Blair, who stepped into the role of CEO at OnlyFans in July 2023, is stirring up the business world with her unorthodox approach to management. Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Blair expressed a strong distaste for the typical "squidgy layer of middle management" found in larger corporations. Her strategy? Simply not hiring them. With a team of just 42 employees, Blair finds it more feasible to operate without the usual tier of project managers and office administrators that can bog down larger companies.

“We do not have that squidgy layer of middle management in the middle, because nobody’s ever had a really good middle manager in my experience,” Blair stated, emphasizing her commitment to a lean operation.

Blair's previous experience with industry giants like Orrick and PwC taught her that staying nimble is key. Instead of building a bloated hierarchy, she opts for scaling teams through freelancers for specific projects, only resorting to full-time hires when absolutely necessary.

The Financial Savvy Behind Blair’s Decisions

OnlyFans, a platform known for its vast user base of 400 million and impressive $7 billion in gross revenue, benefits significantly from Blair’s lean staffing model. The company’s internal metrics reveal that each staff member is responsible for approximately $37 million in revenue. With such high stakes, every hiring decision is crucial.

Blair's hiring philosophy is all about balance. She seeks out either highly experienced senior talent or energetic junior staff who show promise. "Every hire is very important," Blair noted during an interview with Jeff Berman on the Masters of Scale podcast. "You’ve got to make sure you keep the revenue back up to make sure it matches that."

Finding the Right Fit for OnlyFans

Landing a job at OnlyFans is no easy feat. Blair is selective, looking for individuals who resonate deeply with the company's mission. "It’s incredibly important for me to understand that the person who I’m looking at hiring... really believes the mission," Blair explained. She wants her team to do more than just enjoy the cool factor of working at OnlyFans – they need to be invested in the company's story and vision.

In an industry where every staff member can significantly impact the bottom line, Blair’s approach is a testament to her strategic vision and commitment to maintaining a dynamic, purposeful team.