Chanel has named Hélène de Tissot as its next chief financial officer, appointing the former Pernod Ricard finance executive to one of the most closely watched roles in luxury fashion.
The move, announced July 22, positions de Tissot to succeed Philippe Blondiaux, whose decade-long tenure reshaped Chanel’s financial architecture as the privately held house navigated pandemic-era disruptions and a sprawling global expansion. Blondiaux announced his retirement earlier this year, setting the stage for a carefully managed succession.
De Tissot arrives from Pernod Ricard, where she served as deputy chief financial officer and oversaw the drinks conglomerate’s financial strategy across emerging markets. Her appointment signals Chanel’s continued preference for leaders with deep experience in brand-intensive consumer sectors rather than narrowly defined luxury backgrounds.
She will join Chanel in October and formally assume the CFO role in January 2027, overlapping with Blondiaux during the transition period. The handover comes as Chanel pushes deeper into retail real estate, fine jewelry, and fragrance manufacturing — capital-intensive categories that demand financial leadership with a global operational footprint.
