Dolce & Gabbana Appoints Former Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino as Co-CEO in Leadership Restructuring
Dolce & Gabbana has appointed former Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino as co-CEO during a period of restructuring and challenging conditions in the luxury market.
Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has named former Gucci chief executive Stefano Cantino as co-chief executive, marking a leadership reshuffle as the luxury brand addresses financial pressures and a sustained decline in global demand.
Cantino will collaborate with Alfonso Dolce, who has been fulfilling the role of chairman since co-founder Stefano Gabbana stepped down in January. The company announced that the appointment is part of a larger initiative to enhance management as it aims to transition beyond fashion into a more expansive lifestyle brand.
“I am thrilled to have Stefano Cantino alongside me as we embark on this new phase of growth and development for Dolce & Gabbana,” Alfonso Dolce stated. Alfonso Dolce is the sibling of co-founder Domenico Dolce.
Cantino steps into Dolce & Gabbana during a challenging period for the Milan-based brand, as it navigates debt refinancing issues amid a decline in luxury demand. During the fiscal year 2024–2025, the company recorded a net loss of €143 million ($167 million).
The appointment signifies yet another chapter in Cantino’s tumultuous recent journey within high-end luxury management. He served as chief executive of Gucci for a short period at the beginning of 2025, with the responsibility of revitalizing the struggling brand. However, he was replaced just nine months later as part of a wider leadership restructuring initiated by Luca de Meo, the new CEO of the French luxury group Kering.
Prior to his brief time at Gucci, Cantino dedicated five years to LVMH-owned Louis Vuitton, where he served as the head of image and communications. He dedicated two decades to the Prada Group, advancing through various positions in marketing and communications and ultimately achieving the role of director of communications and marketing.
Dolce & Gabbana stated that the appointment signifies its continuous organizational restructuring as it seeks to transform “from a fashion brand to a lifestyle company.”
Established in 1985 by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the Milan-based brand continues to be one of Italy’s most recognizable luxury houses, yet it now faces wider industry challenges and internal changes.
