Yesterday, Chanel Inc. has appointed Katie Welch as head of U.S. brand and company communications, a newly created role effective January 5. Reporting to Stéphane Blanchard, president of the U.S. region and Chanel Inc., Welch will oversee the integrated divisional brand communications teams and help amplify the Chanel Inc. story across the U.S.
“Katie is a dynamic leader who brings both strategic vision and creative instinct to her work,” said Blanchard. “Her deep understanding of brand storytelling, her collaborative leadership style, and her ability to connect with audiences through creativity and purpose make her uniquely suited to lead this next chapter for Chanel Inc. in the U.S. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
Welch brings extensive experience in brand building and marketing to her new role. Most recently, she served as global chief marketing officer at Rare Beauty, where she led brand, product and consumer marketing, along with creative, PR, influencer, partnerships and social impact initiatives. Before that, she was global chief marketing officer at Hourglass, where she helped shape brand pillars and positioning, drove global expansion into key markets, and contributed to the brand’s sale to Unilever. Earlier in her career, she spent several years at Weber Shandwick, pioneering integrated marketing strategies that connected global storytelling with local market engagement.
As part of her new responsibilities, Welch will join Chanel Inc.’s U.S. Management Committee. The divisional heads of brand communications — Ellie Hawke for watches & fine jewelry and company communications, Nancy Hawthorne for fashion, and Nicole Sullivan for fragrance and beauty — will all report to her.
Meanwhile, Adina Kagan, who previously served as interim head of U.S. brand communications and was named head of strategy and transformation in September 2024, will fully transition into that role following Welch’s appointment. Kagan, who joined Chanel in 2012 after working at Tiffany & Co., continues to report to Blanchard and remains a key member of the U.S. management committee. Her team’s focus on building the company’s organizational foundation for long-term growth and cultural impact underscores Chanel Inc.’s commitment to innovation and transformation across its U.S. operations.
