Olivier Nicolay is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in luxury brand management, advisory roles, and education. Currently, he is a Non-Executive Director at Harrods and a Foreign Trade Adviser appointed by the French Prime Minister (CCEF). He has a distinguished 35 year history at Chanel, where he was the Regional President for the UK, Canada, and LATAM regions. He navigated a dynamic region that stretches across three continents, communicates in four languages, and is powered by over two thousand dedicated employees. This journey has instilled in him a crucial insight: today’s success strategies will inevitably face disruption, necessitating proactive preparation for the future.
Olivier is also a Vice-President of the French Chamber of Great Britain, and a Committee Member of the English National Ballet. His expertise spans strategic planning, brand strategy, board governance, and creative problem-solving. He believes complex problems can be divided into simple elements. He likes to work with people and push their boundaries, have them think outside of the box and find creative solutions even in the most complicated times.
He is now building a multifaceted career portfolio encompassing four key areas: Non-Executive Directorship & Advisory roles, Coaching Start-Ups and emerging talent, Higher Education at ESCP Business School, and the Performing Arts. Leveraging his extensive expertise in Branding, Image, Client experience, ESG, Sustainability, DE&I, Strategy, Transformation, and Leadership, he aims to deliver substantial value across these domains.
