Dolce & Gabbana taps former Gucci boss Stefano Cantino as co-CEO: All you need to know about the fashion veteran
Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana announced on Monday (local time) that it had appointed former Gucci boss Stefano Cantino as vice chairman as part of a management reshuffle aimed at refinancing debt, AFP reported.
In the statement made by the company, it was stated that Cantino will serve as co-CEO along with Alfonso Dolce, brother of D&G co-founder and designer Domenico Dolce. Fashion doyen Cantino most recently served as chief executive officer of D&G’s rival brand Gucci.
The company said Cantino’s appointment came about because “the organizational model is evolving from a fashion brand to a lifestyle company.”
Alfonso Dolce has also been president of the company since January this year, after co-founder and designer Stefano Gabbana resigned from his position but retained his creative duties.
Gabbana resigned
According to Bloomberg’s report, 63-year-old Gabbana resigned in December last year. The changes were “part of a natural evolution in organizational structure and management,” the company said in a statement on April 10, adding that Gabbana’s move “will have no impact” on its creative activities.
The crisis in the luxury sector hit D&G
The closely held company has been under pressure from a prolonged downturn in the luxury sector, which has recently been worsened by uncertainty linked to the war in Iran. These difficulties hurt earnings and made it more difficult to comply with debt obligations.
According to Bloomberg, Gabbana is exploring alternative options for its approximately 40% stake in the company, which is preparing for a new round of debt negotiations with creditors.
Lenders are seeking up to 150 million euros ($175.3 million) in new capital as part of a broader refinancing plan covering 450 million euros of debt, the sources said. To raise funds, the company is considering selling real estate assets and renewing licenses.
Founded in the mid-1980s, Dolce & Gabbana quickly became one of the world’s most well-known fashion brands with its Mediterranean-inspired style. Although Gabbana and Domenico Dolce separated more than 20 years ago, they remain business partners and jointly control 80% of the company through a holding entity. The remaining shares are held separately by Domenico, Alfonso and their sister Dorotea.
Who is Stefano Cantino?
According to his LinkedIn profile, Cantino is an experienced Director of External Affairs with a proven track record of working in the apparel and fashion industry. He specializes in trend analysis, luxury goods, management, brand management and retail. He graduated from the Università degli Studi di Torino. Cantino graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, specializing in Political and Social Sciences.
He worked at Prada in different positions for more than 20 years. According to his profile, his tenure at Prada began in 1998, ten years after he graduated. He first worked as Marketing Director between 1998-2009. He later became Group Communications and External Relations Director and served between 2009-2014. Cantino served as Prada’s Group Marketing, Communications and Business Development Director between 2014 and 2018.
Following his tenure at Prada, he worked as Senior Vice President of Communications and Events at Louis Vuitton in Paris for nearly six years.
He joined Gucci in 2024 as Deputy CEO and was promoted to CEO in January last year.
