June 5 (Reuters) - Luxury fashion brand Chanel's

creative director Virginie Viard is set to leave the company,

fashion news website Business of Fashion reported on Wednesday.

"Chanel confirms the departure of Virginie Viard after a

rich collaboration of five years as Artistic Director of Fashion

collections, during which she was able to renew the codes of the

House while respecting the creative heritage of Chanel, and

almost thirty years within the House," the report said, citing

an emailed statement from Chanel.

Viard, a longtime deputy of Karl Lagerfeld, took over as

chief designer of the fashion house in 2019, following the death

of the haute couture icon.

The report did not mention any potential successor to Viard.

Chanel Chief Executive Leena Nair had brushed off talk of a

designer change last month, noting that Viard had overseen

strong growth in ready-to-wear fashion sales, which have surged

two-and-a-half-times since 2018. She said Viard designs "very

successfully for women."

The company said last month it plans to open more stores in

mainland China even though first-quarter sales updates from

luxury brands have shown contrasting results in that market.

Chanel, known for its tweed suits, quilted handbags and No. 5

perfume, is the world's second-largest label after LVMH-owned

Louis Vuitton. The brand is privately owned by French

billionaire brothers Alain Wertheimer and Gerard Wertheimer.

Chanel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.