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Already the subject of rumors, the appointment of Stefano Cantino<\/b>, the former short-lived CEO of Gucci<\/b>, as co-CEO of Dolce&Gabbana (D&G),<\/b> has been confirmed.<\/p>\n
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He will serve alongside Alfonso Dolce<\/b>, who has also held the role of chairman since Stefano Gabbana stepped down<\/b> from that position last January. The co-founder of the Milan-based fashion house, alongside Domenico Dolce in 1985<\/b>, has, however, retained his creative role.<\/p>\n
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In a statement, Alfonso Dolce<\/b>, Domenico\u2019s brother, said he was \u201cdelighted\u201d to have Stefano Cantino \u201cby his side<\/b> in this new phase of growth and development for Dolce & Gabbana.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cA graduate in political science from the University of Turin<\/b>, Stefano Cantino joins Dolce & Gabbana after gaining solid professional experience at companies such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci<\/b>, where he held positions of increasing global responsibility in various fields,\u201d D&G noted in a statement.<\/p>\n
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Stefano Cantino\u2019s career at fashion houses belonging to major luxury groups (notably Kering and LVMH<\/b>) will enable him to bring a structured vision to the Italian company, which remains family-owned.<\/p>\n
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Stefano Cantino spent two decades, from 1998 to 2018, at his compatriot, the Prada<\/b> group, first as marketing director, then as director of communications and external relations for the group, and finally as director of communications, marketing, and business development for the group.<\/p>\n
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From 2018 to 2024, for nearly six years, he joined LVMH<\/b> as Senior Vice President of Communications and Events at Louis Vuitton<\/b>.<\/p>\n
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This was before he was appointed in early 2025 to the general management of Gucci<\/b>, which was then in the midst of a turnaround. His tenure, however, was short-lived, as after only nine months in the role, he was replaced by Francesca Bellettini<\/b>, previously Deputy CEO of Kering, in charge of developing the group\u2019s fashion houses. Stefano Cantino was the victim of a management shake-up led by Luca De Meo, who had just taken the helm of the French luxury group.<\/p>\n
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By joining Dolce & Gabbana, Stefano Cantino has a new opportunity to get a prestigious Italian fashion house back on track<\/b>, one that is also facing financial difficulties and seeking a fresh start.<\/p>\n
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\u201cStefano Cantino\u2019s arrival is part of Dolce & Gabbana\u2019s growth trajectory<\/b>, driven by the evolution of its organizational model, which has transitioned from a fashion brand to a lifestyle company<\/b>,\u201d the group emphasized in its press release.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt is an honor for me to join Dolce & Gabbana, a brand that represents Italian excellence around the world,\u201d said Stefano Cantino.<\/p>\n
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His mission, however, will be anything but smooth sailing.<\/p>\n
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Stefano Dolce\u2019s recent departure from the group\u2019s presidency has indeed come amid a delicate financial situation for the company. After already receiving a \u20ac450 million injection<\/b> last year, it is reportedly now seeking to raise another \u20ac150 million<\/b> in fresh capital\u2026<\/p>\n
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Stefano Gabbana<\/b> is reportedly considering selling his 40% stake<\/b> himself. Domenico Dolce holds a similar stake, with the remaining 20% in the hands of other members of the Dolce family.<\/p>\n
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According to the media outlet Meet & Match<\/b>, Stefano Cantino\u2019s appointment \u201ccomes amid increased pressure on independent fashion houses.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cFaced with players like LVMH or Kering, capable of weathering economic cycles and investing heavily in distribution networks, the issue is no longer solely one of creativity or image, but of the ability to execute at scale without diluting the brand\u2019s identity<\/b>,\u201d the publication notes, \u201cWithin this framework, Alfonso Dolce embodies the group\u2019s entrepreneurial continuity and heritage, while Cantino brings the ability to industrialize the model.\u201d<\/p>\n
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According to the media outlet, \u201cthe challenge<\/b> for the duowill be to transform a house historically founded on creative intuition into an organization capable of steering its growth with precision<\/b>, particularly in high-potential regions,\u201d namely \u201cAsia, the Middle East, and certain growth pockets in North America.\u201d For these regions, in fact, require \u201cextremely rigorous execution strategies: mastery of clienteling, operational excellence in flagship stores, and alignment of local activations with a global strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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During the 2024\u20132025 fiscal year<\/b> (ending in late March), Dolce & Gabbana reportedly achieved revenue growth of approximately +4%<\/b> to around \u20ac1.9 billion. However, the privately held company also suffered a significant net loss<\/b>, ranging between \u20ac117 million and \u20ac143 million depending on the source.<\/p>\n
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