Graphical AbstractHighlights d Cns1 contains a disordered region, a TPR domain, and a domain with a novel fold d Cns1's essential function is associated with protein translation d Cns1, Hgh1, and Hsp90 form a complex with eEF2d The Cns1 complex including the co-factor Hgh1 chaperones eEF2 SUMMARYThe Hsp90 chaperone machinery in eukaryotes comprises a number of distinct accessory factors. Cns1 is one of the few essential co-chaperones in yeast, but its structure and function remained unknown.Here, we report the X-ray structure of the Cns1 fold and NMR studies on the partly disordered, essential segment of the protein. We demonstrate that Cns1 is important for maintaining translation elongation, specifically chaperoning the elongation factor eEF2. In this context, Cns1 interacts with the novel co-factor Hgh1 and forms a quaternary complex together with eEF2 and Hsp90. The in vivo folding and solubility of eEF2 depend on the presence of these proteins. Chaperoning of eEF2 by Cns1 is essential for yeast viability and requires a defined subset of the Hsp90 machinery as well as the identified eEF2 recruiting factor Hgh1.