David Chan’s resignation: How a key leadership exit is reshaping Lanvin Group’s financial strategy

In a development that has unsettled both investors and luxury industry observers, Lanvin Group (NYSE: LANV) has announced that its Executive President and Chief Financial Officer, David Chan, will step down effective October 27, 2025. The company revealed that Chan is pursuing new professional opportunities but may continue to provide advisory support during the leadership transition.

Chan’s exit is significant because he has been part of the company since its early days, guiding its financial and strategic evolution from a legacy French fashion house into a modern, multi-brand luxury group. His departure comes at a time when Lanvin is navigating soft global demand, fluctuating margins, and a renewed focus on creative and operational renewal following two turbulent years in the global luxury sector.

Investors responded swiftly to the news, with Lanvin Group’s shares plunging roughly 7.4 percent following the announcement. The decline reflects broader concerns about the stability of the company’s leadership team and its ability to deliver on upcoming growth and profitability milestones.

Who is David Chan and how did he shape Lanvin Group’s modern identity?

David Chan was instrumental in building the financial foundation of Lanvin Group, overseeing its transformation into a global platform housing several luxury labels including Lanvin, Wolford, Sergio Rossi, St. John Knits, and Caruso. He also played a central role in orchestrating the group’s NYSE listing in 2022 via its merger with Primavera Capital Acquisition Corporation, which marked the company’s debut on the public markets.

Under Chan’s financial leadership, Lanvin pursued an aggressive growth strategy that balanced creative reinvention with international expansion. The group diversified its portfolio while seeking to modernize brand operations and streamline its capital structure. As Chief Financial Officer, Chan managed investor relations, guided capital allocation decisions, and coordinated cost optimization programs across the group’s luxury divisions.

While his reasons for leaving are described as personal and career-driven, the timing coincides with a broader restructuring phase within the luxury industry. His departure suggests a strategic recalibration as the company prepares for its next phase of operational and creative renewal.

Why did Lanvin Group announce the change now, and what’s at stake?

The timing of the announcement appears deliberate. Lanvin Group’s most recent financial disclosures for FY2024 show a 23 percent year-on-year decline in revenue to approximately €328 million, with gross profit falling to about €183 million. The company has blamed this contraction on weaker consumer demand across key markets such as China and Europe, alongside currency fluctuations and inflationary pressures that have increased input costs and eroded margins.

Executives, including Chairman Zhen Huang, have reiterated the company’s commitment to “operational agility” and “creative renewal” in the face of a shifting luxury landscape. Chan himself stated that working alongside Lanvin’s leadership had been “inspiring” and that he remained confident in the company’s future direction, suggesting a cordial and planned exit rather than a reactionary one.

The luxury group has confirmed that a structured transition plan is in motion to ensure continuity across finance and operations. However, the absence of a named successor has intensified market speculation about who will take the helm and how soon the new executive will be able to restore investor confidence.

Why did Lanvin Group stock fall after the CFO’s resignation?

The nearly 7.4 percent drop in LANV shares following the resignation reflects investor anxiety about leadership stability and financial continuity. Analysts noted that this decline underscores how sensitive markets are to CFO transitions—especially in consumer-facing sectors where investor trust hinges on credible financial guidance and consistent execution.

Lanvin Group has been under pressure since its public listing in 2022, when it raised expectations of profitability within two years. The company has struggled to achieve that goal, posting a widening net loss despite modest revenue growth in earlier quarters. This has made its financial leadership even more critical to market perception.

Investors are particularly concerned about whether the incoming CFO can restore confidence in Lanvin’s margin recovery plans and cost controls while supporting ambitious creative and retail investments. Any perceived delay or uncertainty in appointing a successor could weigh further on the company’s share price in the short term.

How does this leadership shift fit within Lanvin’s long history and sector challenges?

Lanvin’s roots stretch back to 1889, when Jeanne Lanvin founded the iconic French fashion house that became a symbol of Parisian couture and craftsmanship. The brand survived wars, recessions, and the rise of mass luxury, before eventually being integrated into Lanvin Group, part of Fosun International’s luxury portfolio.

Since its 2022 debut on the New York Stock Exchange, Lanvin Group has positioned itself as a diversified luxury conglomerate modeled loosely on larger peers like Kering, LVMH, and Richemont. However, unlike those giants, Lanvin remains in a rebuilding phase—working to strengthen its brands, revitalize design teams, and optimize its retail operations after years of inconsistent performance.

The broader luxury market has softened since mid-2024, with consumer demand in China decelerating and North American spending becoming more selective. Analysts expect slower revenue growth and increased discounting pressure to persist through 2026, forcing companies like Lanvin to double down on operational efficiency.

Against that backdrop, Chan’s resignation underscores the tension between maintaining creative vision and achieving financial discipline—a balance that has proven difficult for many mid-tier luxury groups.

What kind of successor does Lanvin Group need now?

While no official successor has been named, the ideal candidate will need to bring deep experience in luxury finance, cross-border brand management, and investor communication. The next CFO will inherit a challenging mandate: stabilizing short-term profitability while funding long-term creative and digital transformation projects.

Given Chan’s potential advisory role, Lanvin Group appears keen to ensure institutional knowledge transfer during the transition. However, markets will closely watch whether the new CFO is seen as a “steady hand” capable of building credibility with institutional investors and analysts.

Industry observers believe the company will likely look for a candidate who has experience managing fashion or consumer brands through cyclical downturns and who understands how to balance creative risk-taking with fiscal prudence.

What’s the investor sentiment and near-term outlook for Lanvin Group stock?

Investor sentiment toward Lanvin Group (NYSE: LANV) remains cautious. The share price decline after the resignation signals that institutional investors are adopting a wait-and-see stance. With foreign institutional investors (FIIs) likely trimming exposure due to leadership uncertainty, retail and smaller funds may dominate near-term trading volumes.

From a valuation perspective, the company’s low price-to-sales multiple could attract contrarian investors seeking a turnaround play, provided the new CFO outlines a clear path to margin recovery. However, until Lanvin delivers consistent earnings improvement, most analysts are likely to maintain a “Hold” recommendation rather than shift to a “Buy.”

Some investors expect further strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or selective acquisitions as part of the group’s effort to expand its creative ecosystem. Others predict that 2026 could mark the first year of genuine EBITDA stabilization if cost controls and creative renewals align effectively.

Can Lanvin Group turn this disruption into an opportunity?

In the long run, leadership transitions can often serve as catalysts for renewal. If Lanvin’s board uses this moment to recalibrate its financial and creative priorities, the company could emerge leaner and more resilient. The global luxury sector has seen similar inflection points—most notably when Gucci, Burberry, and Ferragamo restructured their leadership to adapt to changing consumer trends.

For Lanvin Group, the success of this transition will hinge on how well it communicates its financial strategy, aligns its creative investments with profitability goals, and reassures investors that the fundamentals remain intact. The company’s willingness to retain Chan in an advisory role suggests a desire to maintain stability even as it evolves its leadership structure.

Ultimately, David Chan’s resignation marks more than a personal career move—it signals a pivotal test of Lanvin Group’s maturity as a publicly traded luxury enterprise. If managed effectively, the change could reinforce its long-term positioning as a credible global luxury platform. But for now, the markets are watching, and patience will be key.