Last time we caught up with Zoia Kozakov, she was celebrating her place on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Today, she’s making headlines again—but this time for a dramatic career pivot. Kozakov, who was a Vice President and head of digital wallets at JPMorgan, has left the finance giant to join Chanel, the iconic luxury fashion house known for its coveted handbags, perfumes, and more.
According to EFinancials report, Zoia Kozakov played a pivotal role in the bank’s digital strategy, helping to steer a tech budget of $15 billion—an amount more than ten times Chanel’s entire capital expenditure, which includes opening new boutiques. Now, she’s stepping into the role of Head of Digital Strategy and Insights at Chanel—a significant promotion in both title and influence.
While it’s not common for financial services professionals to transition into the luxury fashion sector, it’s certainly not unheard of. Chanel, a brand favored by female analysts for its timeless black quilted bags—the feminine equivalent of a Rolex—has always been a symbol of status in the financial world.
Kozakov isn’t the first to make such a leap. Brandon Snower, another former JPMorgan employee, left to create his own fashion label, Le Alfré. Goldman Sachs alum Rahul Rekapalli switched gears to study fashion photography at New York’s School of Visual Arts. And who can forget Anoo Rehncy, who left JPMorgan in 2014 to found A Black and White Story, a clothing brand beloved by Beyoncé and Stormzy, among others?
Kozakov’s move to Chanel, however, may be the most significant crossover yet, given the scale and prestige of both her former and new employers. Her unique blend of tech expertise and digital strategy, honed in the demanding world of finance, positions her perfectly to drive innovation in Chanel’s digital transformation.
