The longtime fashion president remains in his executive roles as Chanel moves toward a board composed primarily of independent directors
Bruno Pavlovsky has resigned from the board of Chanel Limited but will remain president of Chanel’s fashion activities and president of Chanel SAS, the company confirmed in a statement. The departure marks another step in the governance transition underway at the privately held luxury group, while preserving Pavlovsky’s leadership of its fashion business.
“We confirm that Bruno Pavlovsky has resigned from the board of Chanel Limited,” the company said. Chanel added that the change completes the board’s evolution toward a composition of independent directors, while retaining executive representation through global executive chairman Alain Wertheimer and global chief executive officer Leena Nair.
Pavlovsky joined Chanel in 1990 after working at Deloitte and became president of the fashion division in 2004. Over his tenure, he worked alongside Karl Lagerfeld until 2019, Virginie Viard from 2019 to 2024, and Matthieu Blazy, who joined the house as creative director in 2025. He also serves as president of Eres, the swimwear brand owned by Chanel, and Le19M, the group’s Paris-area hub for métiers d’art and craftsmanship.
His resignation follows a broader governance and leadership transition initiated by the Wertheimer family, Chanel’s owners, around five years ago. Leena Nair’s appointment as global CEO in 2021 was followed by the departure of several long-serving executives. Pavlovsky’s exit from the board, however, does not signal a departure from the company’s operational leadership.
The board’s shift toward greater independence has included the appointment of three non-executive directors in 2025: Teresa Ko, a senior partner at Freshfields; Simone Bagel-Trah, chairwoman of Henkel’s supervisory board and shareholders’ committee; and William Touche, a former Deloitte U.K. senior partner and vice chairman. Other non-executive directors include former Rolex chairman Bertrand Gros, former Bear Stearns executive Paul Abecassis, technology entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox and media executive Alexandra Mahon.
Chanel said Pavlovsky and chief financial officer Philippe Blondiaux, who is due to retire at the end of 2026 after 15 years in the role, will not be replaced on the board. “Today’s board composition provides an appropriate balance of independent oversight, continuity and Chanel leadership,” the company said.
The governance changes come as Chanel continues to navigate leadership renewal while maintaining its position in global luxury. The company reported 2025 revenue of $19.3 billion, up 3 percent at reported exchange rates and 1.8 percent on a comparable basis. Pavlovsky, who was elected president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode in 2022 and re-elected in July 2026, remains a prominent figure in the French fashion industry.