Component of the CENPA-NAC (nucleosome-associated) complex, a complex that plays a central role in assembly of kinetochore proteins, mitotic progression and chromosome segregation (By similarity). The CENPA-NAC complex recruits the CENPA-CAD (nucleosome distal) complex and may be involved in incorporation of newly synthesized CENPA into centromeres (By similarity). Part of a nucleosome-associated complex that binds specifically to histone H3-containing nucleosomes at the centromere, as opposed to nucleosomes containing CENPA. Component of the heterotetrameric CENP-T-W-S-X complex that binds and supercoils DNA, and plays an important role in kinetochore assembly. CENPW has a fundamental role in kinetochore assembly and function. It is one of the inner kinetochore proteins, with most further proteins binding downstream. Required for normal chromosome organization and normal progress through mitosis (By similarity). Heterodimer with CENPT; this dimer coassembles with CENPS-CENPX heterodimers at centromeres to form the tetrameric CENP-T-W-S-X complex, which is a subcomplex of the large constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN, also known as the interphase centromere complex or ICEN). Interacts with NPM1. Constitutively localizes to centromeres throughout the cell cycle, and to the inner kinetochore during mitosis. Belongs to the CENP-W/WIP1 family.