Bruno Pavlovsky Leaves Chanel Limited Board but Keeps Fashion Leadership Roles
Chanel confirmed that Bruno Pavlovsky has stepped down from the board of Chanel Limited while continuing as president of fashion and president of Chanel SAS. The company said the change completes a board shift toward independent directors while retaining executive representation. Pavlovsky joined Chanel in 1990, became fashion president in 2004, and also leads Eres, Le19M, and French fashion’s governing body.
Pavlovsky, 63, arrived at Chanel in 1990 after working at Deloitte. He took charge of the fashion division in 2004 and now also heads Eres, the Le19M craft center, and Chanel SAS. Since 2022 he has led French fashion’s governing body, the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, and was returned to that post in July.
He collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld until 2019, then Virginie Viard through 2024, and has worked with Matthieu Blazy since April 2025. His board exit follows a succession process begun five years ago by Chanel’s owning Wertheimer family; Leena Nair became global CEO in 2021.
The change may matter most to Chanel’s fashion staff, creative collaborators, and luxury consumers, who could see continuity in design leadership while board oversight becomes more independent. Because Pavlovsky also leads French fashion’s governing body, his remaining influence may shape industry priorities around craftsmanship and talent. Independent directors could bring broader perspectives to Chanel’s long-term strategy, though the practical effect on daily fashion operations may be limited as long as he keeps his executive roles.