Ruth Warder Appointed as Chanel’s First Global CCO

On June 12, Chanel announced the appointment of Ruth Warder as its first-ever Global Chief Communications Officer. The newly created role will be based in London, with Warder set to officially join the French luxury house in September 2025, reporting directly to Leena Nair, Chanel’s Global CEO.

Warder is a seasoned communications executive with over 15 years of experience at global PR firm Edelman, where she held various senior roles, including CEO for the UK and Ireland and Brand Chair for the EMEA region. She has worked across a diverse range of industries, including technology, retail, entertainment, luxury, and FMCG. During her tenure, she led the development of Edelman’s specialist divisions in sustainability, workplace advisory, and artificial intelligence, and played a key role in advancing strategic initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and leadership development.

Prior to joining Edelman, Warder served as Managing Director at Jackie Cooper PR, and began her career at Freud Communications.

In an official statement, Chanel said: “Building on the strengths of Chanel’s existing global communications teams, Warder will continue to develop a cohesive, proactive reputation strategy and amplify our voice as we grow our positive influence and impact in the world.”

Around the same time, Michael Giugliano, formerly Head of Brand Expansion at Bottega Veneta, also joined Chanel. According to the company, he is now based in Paris and is leading the house’s celebrity team.

These key appointments reflect a broader shift under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy, who took the helm in April. Chanel is reinforcing both its executive and brand strategies as it navigates a more challenging luxury market. In 2024, Chanel reported revenue of $18.7 billion, marking a 4.3% decline at comparable rates, highlighting the impact of the global slowdown in luxury spending.

As the brand looks to strengthen its global presence and long-term influence, Chanel is clearly investing in both creative leadership and strategic communications to shape its next chapter.