Celebrity agent Jonathan Shalit claims Prince Harry’s new role as an executive for a Silicon Valley start-up means he will be “trying to keep up” with his wife, Meghan Markle.
Celebrity agent Jonathan Shalit spoke to The Telegraph about Harry’s new role and what it will mean for the couple.
He claims that Harry took on the corporate gig to keep from fading into the background.
“So for Harry to keep up with his wife, he’s got to find his own name and identity and this is the start,” he told the publication.
“He doesn’t need celebrity. When you’re a royal, you’re the biggest celebrity in the world. But what his does is allow Harry to have relevance,” Shalit added.
Harry’s new role is as a Chief Impact Cfficer at BetterUp, a mental health service business worth billions of dollars.
He will be a figurehead for the business, and he will help promote an app used by huge companies like Facebook.
The app is meant to help support staff’s wellbeing at big corporations, and it has been described as Tinder for mental health because a user will scroll through profiles of life coaches and therapists to find a match for their concerns.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Prince Harry will have input into initiatives, including product strategy decisions and charitable contributions, and advocate publicly on mental health topics.
“I intend to help create impact in people’s lives,” Harry said according to the publication.
“Proactive coaching provides endless possibilities for personal development, increased awareness, and an all-round better life,” he added.
He also revealed that he has been using the Silicon Valley startup’s resources for a couple of months.
“I was matched with my coach who, quite frankly, is truly awesome and has always given me sound advice and a fresh perspective, which is so valuable,” he said.
Alexi Robichaux, the CEO of BetterUp, also said on the company’s website that Harry is a “true citizen of the world”, and that his dedication to bringing attention to the “diverse needs” of people and also advocating for mental health initiatives, is what makes him perfect for the role.
“As a member of the BetterUp executive team, Prince Harry will expand on the work he’s been doing for years, as he educates and inspires our community and champions the importance of focusing on preventative mental fitness and human potential worldwide,” he said.
Over time it will become clearer what type of impact Harry will have and what that will mean for his public reception.