Former Maison Margiela CMO, KCD VP, and Valentino VP Rejoins the House On April 7
Tanja Ruhnke has been appointed Chief Communication Officer at Valentino, effective April 7. Ruhnke steps into the role after serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Maison Margiela.
This marks a return to Valentino for Ruhnke, who previously held the position of Vice President of Communication and Marketing for North America before joining Maison Margiela in 2020. She brings extensive luxury-sector experience, having served as Vice President of Global Branding and Communications at Alexander Wang, as well as working with KCD in Paris for eight years as Vice President of Public Relations.
Her background also includes stints at Helmut Lang and creative production agency North6 in New York, along with consulting engagements for brands such as Gucci, Bottega Veneta, and Birkenstock.
Valentino is currently led by chief executive officer Jacopo Venturini, while Alessandro Michele was named creative director in March of last year.
In July 2023, Kering disclosed that it acquired a 30 percent stake in Valentino, amounting to 1.7 billion euros in cash, as part of a strategic partnership with Qatari investment fund Mayhoola, the brand’s controlling shareholder. Under the agreement, Kering can acquire 100 percent of Valentino’s shares by 2028, while Mayhoola may opt to become a shareholder in Kering. Both parties are expected to explore additional investments that extend beyond fashion.