Restructuring at Chanel: Bruno Pavlovsky resigns from board of directors

Bruno Pavlovsky has resigned from the board of directors of Chanel Limited. The executive will, however, retain his key operational roles as president of the house's fashion activities and president of Chanel SAS, the house confirmed to FashionUnited.

Governance overhaul

This decision is part of a broader strategy to overhaul the company's governance. The house of Chanel clarified the objective of this restructuring: “This latest development marks the completion of the Board's transformation towards a composition of independent directors, bringing a diversity of expertise and external perspectives, while maintaining management representation through Alain Wertheimer as global executive chairman and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer.”

The 63-year-old Bruno Pavlovsky is the last of a generation of long-standing senior executives to remain in his position following the arrival of Leena Nair as global chief executive officer in 2021. His withdrawal from the board represents the latest development in a succession plan established five years ago by the Wertheimer family, who own Chanel.

As WWD notes, under the leadership of Leena Nair, the company has seen the departure of several industry veterans, including John Galantic, who served as president and chief operating officer of Chanel Inc. from 2006 until 2023.

Beyond the house of Chanel, Bruno Pavlovsky also plays an important role in the French fashion sector, having held the position of president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) since 2022. He also serves as an independent director for the Accor group, a major player in the hotel industry.

In terms of performance, the house of Chanel returned to growth in 2025, driven by demand in Europe and the Americas. The company reported revenue of 19.3 billion dollars (up 3 percent, and up 1.8 percent on a like-for-like basis and at constant exchange rates).