John Galantic, president and chief operating officer of Chanel Inc., is stepping down from his role. He plans to pursue other profession opportunities. He’ll proceed to guide the corporate until June 30.
Galantic joined Chanel in 2006 as president and chief operating officer of Chanel Inc. In 2017 he took on the extra global leadership role to ascertain and oversee the Integrated Platform team, recently renamed Global Digital Services and in partnership with Bruno Menard, to grow Chanel.com in addition to the corporate’s digital capabilities.
The news of Galantic’s resignation was revealed internally last Wednesday. He couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.
“During his time with Chanel, John Galantic has built the brand and the business of Chanel Inc. right into a true powerhouse. In 2017, he moreover took on a world leadership role to ascertain and oversee the Global Digital Services (GDS) to grow our Chanel.com and digital capabilities. Under his leadership, Chanel Inc. pioneered a transformational client centric model, increasing Chanel’s owned distribution and elevating client experience in addition to profitability, growing the business in all categories,” said a Chanel spokeswoman, who confirmed his resignation Monday.
Galantic led the teams driving sustainability and social commitment through initiatives akin to Sunrun, the launch of Chanel Community, and the Racial Justice Fund, she said.
She noted that his successor can be named very soon.
Alain Wertheimer, global executive chairman of Chanel, and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer, emailed a letter to employees last week, obtained by WWD, noting that under Galantic’s leadership, the U.S. achieved its highest ever Voice of Client scores and gained in brand equity results. The letter noted that through the years, Galantic has also championed the event of local artistic direction and humanities and culture initiatives that proceed to raise the image of the brand.
Prior to joining Chanel, Galantic was president of Coty Beauty U.S., the corporate’s mass market firm. Earlier, the Harvard Business School graduate held senior posts at SmithKline Beecham and the Procter & Gamble Co.
When he joined Chanel, Galantic took over the responsibilities of Maureen Chiquet, who was promoted to Chanel’s global CEO. Galantic was charged with leading the strategic and operational activity for Chanel within the U.S., accountable for fashion, accessories, watches, superb jewelry, beauty and fragrance, in addition to wholesale distribution and freestanding retail.
During his tenure, Galantic was involved in transforming its wholesale business right into a concession model. The corporate began operating concession departments in its major accounts akin to Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, a process that began in 2017 with Bloomingdale’s 59th Street flagship.
On the time, Galantic told WWD, “You could be wondering why, after 12 years of relative silence, am I doing an actual interview. It’s a time of pretty major change here. The old saying is ‘don’t waste a crisis.’ But I have a look at it the opposite way, which is when the business could be very strong and the demand very desirable, there’s way more leverage and leeway to make change.”
Galantic told WWD the explanation for the switch was his wanting to have a more direct-to-client relationship with its key partners, and it might allow Chanel to service the client and communicate directly.
Within the letter to employees, Wertheimer and Nair wrote, “John’s commitment to people and impact — each internal and external — defines his tenure at Chanel. The U.S. organization has grown more diverse, as seen in membership across our Worker Resource Group network.”
As a “valued, insightful member of the Global Leadership Team,” additionally they wrote that he launched the U.S. e-commerce platforms which carved the trail for a world Chanel.com site, in addition to the primary Client app, extending one-on-one luxury service beyond the boutique. As a member of the Chanel board, he also helped shape the governance process given his experience on external boards.
Galantic has been a director at Bacardi, and a non-executive director at Ferrari.
“We would like to thank John for his significant contributions and the standard of the teams he has in-built the U.S. and Paris,” the letter noted.
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