In an exclusive interview with WWD, Hermès has announced that one of its Hermès International talents (that some insiders describe as its ‘secret weapon’) is slated to exit the brand.

The house’s artistic director of the women’s product universe Bali Barret has officially submitted her resignation and will exit the French house this fall. Her profile is somewhat akin to that of Gucci’s Alessandro Michele — both worked day and night behind the scenes at their respective fashion houses while being responsible for products that generate the lion’s share of brand revenues. Hermès confirmed her departure and praised her contribution to the modernization of the heritage conservative brand.

“It has been a privilege and a great pleasure to work with Bali for all these years,” general artistic director of Hermès Pierre-Alexis Dumas told WWD. “I pay tribute to a close collaboration over more than 15 years and to the remarkable work accomplished by Bali, who has always animated creation with a demand for beauty, boldness, fantasy and contemporaneity. She has inspired the house with passion and revealed the talents of creative directors, designers and artisans.”

“Taking care of the creation of the Hermès women’s universe collections alongside Pierre-Alexis Dumas and the house’s talented teams has been an immense pleasure and enriching at all times,” Barret shared. “[Chief executive officer] Axel Dumas and Pierre-Alexis Dumas have always given me great freedom of creation and I thank them for the trust they have placed in me.”

Barret joined Hermès in 2003 as artistic director of its silk department, recruiting street artists and other young creatives to bring fresh ideas to the category. She was promoted to her current position in 2009, taking on all women’s leather goods, footwear, ready-to-wear, silks, jewelry, watches, beauty and fashion accessories. Insider sources (said to be “fiercely loyal” to Barret’s leadership and design vision) claim that she helped lead the sort of ‘revolution’ at Hermès and streamline its processes and product offerings, rebranding old fashion label into something that feels more relatable and authentic to Millenials and Gen Zers.

As for Barret’s next move, no announcement has come from Hermès or the creative herself thus far.