One of the few female luxury CEOs exits CHANEL

CHANEL Global CEO Maureen Chiquet, one of the few women at the helm of an international fashion house, has left her position after nine years.

Her departure – just 24 hours after Karl Lagerfeld presented his latest collection for the house at Couture Fashion Week in Paris – came as a surprise to many industry insiders thanks to the great success the label enjoyed during her tenure. 

Rather than glossing over any differences with platitudes, Chanel admitted that Chiquet was departing “due to differences of opinion about the strategic direction of the company”, WWD reports, but was careful to acknowledge the debt owed to the New York executive for the French house’s very positive current position: “Chanel is grateful for what Maureen has done to bring Chanel into a new era of its development, in close collaboration with the leadership team, and wishes her continued success.”

Biography 

As chief executive officer of Chanel, Maureen Chiquet oversaw the global activities of the storied fashion brand, owned by the highly discreet Wertheimer family.

Since taking up the role in 2007, Chiquet, an American, has bolstered Chanel’s reputation as one of France’s top haute couture houses and delivered on her two-pronged mission to “upgrade” and “modernise” the brand. But her appointment initially raised eyebrows because she is not French, had little experience in the luxury industry and had spent most of her career working for mass-market retailer Gap.

In January 2016, it was announced Chiquet would be stepping down from the position, citing differences over opinion regarding strategic direction. Executives from the company confirmed chairman Alain Wertheimer would be taking over Chanel’s operational managment.

Chiquet hails from St Louis, Missouri. She attended Yale University, where she obtained a degree in film and literature, and subsequently moved to Paris, where she got an internship at L’Oréal and stayed for three years, meeting her future husband along the way.

The couple married and moved to San Francisco, where Chiquet took a merchandising position with Gap. There, she attacted the attention of Jenny Ming, who headed the company’s then new, low-cost Old Navy division. Chiquet joined Old Navy and helped build the company to $5 billion in sales within five years. In 2002 Chiquet was named president of Banana Republic (also owned by Gap Inc) before joining Chanel in 2003 as president and chief operating officer of its US operations for fragrance, beauty and jewellery.

Alongside her duties at Chanel, Chiquet serves on the President’s Council of International Activities at Yale University and sits on the board of directors of children’s clothing company Peek… Aren’t You Curious and the board of trustees of the New York Academy of Art.

CHANEL | ALAIN WERTHEIMER

Alain Wertheimer and his brother Gerard own Chanel, the French luxury brand. Alain is the chairman of the company and lives in the U.S. Gerard, who lives in Switzerland, leads the watch division.

Chanel was founded in 1909 by their grandfather Pierre Wertheimer, who eventually bought out his early partner Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel, the company’s namesake.

In addition to Chanel, the brothers own French vineyards Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux and Chateau Canon in Saint-Emilion. 

They also breed and race thoroughbreds. Their horses have won races at the French Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the U.S.