Chanel Creates New Global Chief Communications Officer Role

PARIS — Chanel has named Ruth Warder as global chief communications officer, a newly created position based in London, effective in September.

Warder, who was most recently chief executive officer for the U.K. and Ireland and EMEA brand chair at global communications firm Edelman, will report to Leena Nair, global CEO of Chanel, as part of the global leadership team, Chanel said on Thursday.

“Ruth is a highly accomplished and globally recognized expert in successfully positioning brands within an increasingly complex and fragmented communications landscape,” the house said in a statement.

“Building on the strengths of Chanel’s existing global communications teams, she will continue to develop a cohesive, proactive reputation strategy and amplify our voice as we grow our positive influence and impact in the world,” it added.

The nomination comes as Chanel charts a new path under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy, while navigating a global slowdown in luxury spending. The French fashion house said revenues fell 4.3 percent at comparable rates to $18.7 billion in 2024, following several years of strong growth.

Warder joined Edelman in 2013 and has experience across the tech, retail, entertainment, luxury and FMCG sectors. She is credited with introducing new specialisms at Edelman in the fields of workplace advisory, sustainability and AI, while driving the company’s strategy on topics including DEI and leadership development.

Prior to that, she was managing director at Jackie Cooper PR, and she started her career at Freud Communications.

Meanwhile, Michael Giugliano, former head of brand expansion at Bottega Veneta, confirmed on Instagram this week that he was starting at Chanel.

WWD reported in April that Blazy, who officially started on April 1, was building out his team and looking to bring Giugliano on board. A spokeswoman for Chanel said Giugliano would head its celebrities team and would be based in Paris, but did not confirm his exact title.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}