Helmut Lang Retires Post of Communications Director
September 14, 2004 - New York
The house of Helmut Lang has retired the position of International Communications Director, in the latest sign of belt-tightening at the Prada Group.
As a result, Tanja Ruhnke has left the company, stepping down after two years as communications chief at the New York-based fashion house.
“I’m disappointed, it’s been a great experience. I really love the company and Helmut. But sometimes corporations have to make difficult decisions,” Ruhnke told FWD. Executives at the company informed Ruhnke of the decision last Friday.
It’s understood that Prada is mulling the idea of eventually appointing a PR representative based in Milan.
This summer, Lang’s visual merchandising manager Oliver Keeve was relieved of his duties in another right-sizing move in the Prada Group, which has been steadily paring costs at all its divisions, under pressure from banks concerned about the luxury group’s net indebtedness. Besides Lang, Prada controls Jil Sander and the Church’s shoe label.
A graduate in communications from FIT, Ruhnke, 31, spent five years post-college at KCD, the leading New York fashion PR company. Fluent in English, French and German, the highly popular Ruhnke worked with such KCD clients as Gucci, Versace and Marc Jacobs, participating in collections and events in Milan, Paris, New York and London.
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