Chanel, the world-famous French luxury brand, has named Ruth Warder as its new Global Chief Communications Officer. This is a brand-new role at Chanel, and Warder will officially join the company in September 2025. She will be based in London and report directly to Leena Nair, Chanel’s Global Chief Executive Officer.
Warder is a highly respected figure in the communications industry. She previously worked at Edelman, one of the largest public relations firms in the United States. There, she held several senior roles, most recently serving as CEO for the UK and Ireland and Chair of Brand for the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa).
Her primary role at Chanel will be to lead the brand’s global communication strategy, helping the company enhance its public image and convey its story more clearly and consistently worldwide. Chanel hopes that with Warder’s expertise, they can establish a unified and modern reputation as the fashion house enters a new creative era.
This leadership change comes as Chanel adopts a fresh direction under Creative Director Matthieu Blazy, and during a time when the brand is seeking to recover from a 4.3% decline in annual revenue in 2024, which resulted in earnings of $18.7 billion.
Ruth Warder studied at the University of Manchester and began her career at Freud Communications, a well-established PR agency in the UK. She later worked with GSP Events and spent 10 years as Managing Director at Jackie Cooper PR, gaining deep experience in brand messaging and public relations. Her move to Edelman in 2013 marked the beginning of a decade-long journey where she took on some of the most important roles in the company.
With her strong background and fresh energy, Chanel believes Warder is the right person to help elevate the brand’s global voice. Her appointment is seen as a strategic move to reinforce Chanel’s presence and purpose in an increasingly competitive luxury fashion world.
