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Ex-Rare Beauty Exec. Joins Chanel

Katie Welch will serve as the Head of U.S. Brand & Company Communications.

October 31, 2025

Assistant Editor

Chanel Inc. has named Katie Welch the new Head of U.S. Brand and Company Communications, effective January 5, 2026. She will also join Chanel’s U.S. Management Committee.

In this newly created role, she will report to Stephane Blanchard and will lead the integrated divisional brand communications teams. In this role, Welch will help share and amplify the Chanel story across the U.S.

Blanchard, President of the U.S. Region and Chanel, said,

“Katie is a dynamic leader who brings both strategic vision and creative instinct to her work. 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 most recently served as the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Rare Beauty. There, she led brand, product, and consumer marketing as well as creative, PR, influencer, partnerships, and social impact.

Before that, she was global chief marketing officer at Hourglass, where she helped develop brand pillars and positioning, drove global expansion into key markets, and contributed to the brand’s successful sale to Unilever.

At Chanel, Welch will oversee Ellie Hawke, head of brand communications, watches & fine jewelry, and company communications; Nancy Hawthorne, head of brand communications, fashion; and Nicole Sullivan, head of brand communications, fragrance and beauty.