Tanja Ruhnke exits Valentino after six weeks as communication director

Just weeks after stepping into her new role as communication director for Italian luxury house Valentino, Tanja Ruhnke has chosen to step down for personal reasons. Ruhnke, who officially joined Valentino on April 7, exited the role just six weeks later, catching the company by surprise. The German executive had recently returned to the Roman fashion house, where she previously worked in 2019. 

The brand, which is owned by the investment company Mayhoola, a fund of the Qatari royal family, and 30% by Kering, confirmed her departure—revealed by the American publication WWD—although without giving any further details.

Of German origin, Tanja Ruhnke lived for a long time in New York, where she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Since 2020, she has worked as marketing director at Maison Margiela and has extensive experience in the luxury world, where she has become known for her communication skills.

She began as a consultant for various fashion brands before joining Helmut Lang to lead communications. In 2005, she moved to Paris to join communications agency KCD, where she rose to vice president. In 2012, she returned to New York to become vice president of global branding and communication at Alexander Wang. In 2017, she moved to Birkenstock, then joined production agency North Six before returning to Valentino as vice president of communications for North America. A year later, she joined Maison Margiela, owned by Italian fashion group OTB.