Moving swiftly to gird management, and foreshadowing a lifestyle push, Lanvin has appointed Barbara Werschine its new chief executive officer.
Werschine was most recently CEO at cashmere specialist Bompard, where she “successfully modernized the brand and optimized its financial performance” over a four-year tenure, according to Lanvin.
She has also served as director of leather goods collections at Hermès and held key leadership and development roles at Zadig & Voltaire, Celine and Louis Vuitton.
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She succeeds Andy Lew, who has served in that role since July 2025, and picks up responsibilities previously handled by Siddhartha Shukla, who last March stepped down as deputy CEO after leading an upscaling drive at the oldest couture house in Paris.
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In an interview, Werschine vowed continuity at the house, where she will team with artistic director Peter Copping to reinforce its positioning as a standard bearer of elegance, while also divulging plans to re-enter the homewares category in the near future.
“People want to go back to elegance and formalwear and Lanvin is very accurate for that,” she told WWD. “I’m French, and Parisian, so I’m deeply attached to this brand. It’s part of our culture.
“I’m very aligned with what Peter Copping has been doing so far at the house,” she added, calling his fall 2026 women’s show “a key milestone in the revival of the brand,” which is rooted in women’s ready-to-wear and leather goods.
Meanwhile, Lanvin lauded Werschine’s “extensive expertise and a distinguished track record in the luxury industry,” and said she would be charged with “steering the brand’s global strategy, accelerating its development, and strengthening Lanvin’s positioning on the international stage.
“The strategic roadmap also includes expanding the menswear range and developing cohesive brand extensions, notably in the home and lifestyle universe, thereby reconnecting with Lanvin’s historic lifestyle heritage,” the house added in a statement shared exclusively with WWD.
Lanvin is marking its 100th anniversary in menswear and Werschine let slip the brand would unveil a collaboration during men’s fashion week in Paris, when Copping will unveil his latest collection in a presentational format.
Commenting on Werschine’s appointment, Lew lauded her “vision of the luxury market and deep understanding of our industry’s challenges” as “major assets in guiding Lanvin through its next phase of growth, while honoring the unique identity of this iconic house.”
Lew will now dedicate himself fully to his role as executive chairman of Lanvin Group, overseeing a portfolio of brands that includes Lanvin, Wolford, Sergio Rossi, and St. John Knits.
Revenues at Lanvin Group fell 18 percent to 240 million euros last year, reflecting a strategic reset that had the company closing 51 stores last year, as reported.
Werschine said her immediate focus would be on girding Lanvin’s core markets in France and Europe, rebuilding desirability and creating organic momentum ahead of future expansion in the United States and Asia.
She also divulged plans to “develop consistent brand extensions,” characterizing founder Jeanne Lanvin as a lifestyle pioneer by extending her brand into areas like childrenswear, fragrances and home decor.
In prepared remarks, Werschine said her mission is to “sustainably rebuild the house’s desirability and core fundamentals. I am convinced that Lanvin possesses all the assets needed to achieve a new milestone in its growth and strengthen its footprint across key luxury markets.”
A graduate of ESCP Business School and Harvard Business School, Werschine has also worked as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company.