Dolce & Gabbana Names Former Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino as Co-CEO Amid Financial Restructuring

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4.13.2026

Quick Facts

Stefano Cantino, former Gucci CEO, appointed Co-CEO alongside Alfonso Dolce
Appointment comes as Dolce & Gabbana negotiates €450 million debt restructuring
Company generated €1.9 billion revenue but posted €143 million net loss

Dolce & Gabbana appointed Stefano Cantino as Co-CEO, bringing in the former Gucci leader to work alongside Alfonso Dolce as the Italian luxury house navigates financial challenges and leadership changes.

Cantino joins Dolce & Gabbana after serving as Gucci CEO from January 2025. His 22-year career includes senior roles at Prada in business development, merchandising and marketing, plus communications leadership at Louis Vuitton from 2018.

The appointment follows co-founder Stefano Gabbana’s resignation as chairman in December, though he remains involved in creative direction with Domenico Dolce. Alfonso Dolce now serves as both Chairman and CEO alongside his new co-CEO role with Cantino.

“I am delighted to have Stefano Cantino by my side in this new phase of growth and development of Dolce & Gabbana,” Alfonso Dolce said. Cantino called joining the company “an honour,” citing its representation of “Italian excellence.”

The leadership change occurs as Dolce & Gabbana prepares to negotiate debt restructuring for approximately €450 million with banking partners including Intesa Sanpaolo, BNL BNP Paribas, and Banco BPM. The company simultaneously seeks up to €150 million in new funding to improve liquidity.

Dolce & Gabbana hired Rothschild to handle the debt covenant renegotiation. The company plans to generate cash through real estate asset sales and renewed licensing agreements, including extending its eyewear partnership with EssilorLuxottica through 2050.

The fashion house posted €1.9 billion in revenue for the year ending March 31, up 4 percent, but recorded a €143 million net loss. Gabbana reportedly considers options for his roughly 40 percent company stake ahead of bank negotiations.

The appointment positions Dolce & Gabbana for what executives call evolution “from a Fashion Brand to a Lifestyle Company.” The company brought its beauty business in-house in 2022, achieving estimated sales of €910 million in 2024, up 35 percent year-over-year.

Cantino’s arrival brings experience managing luxury brands through repositioning cycles during a challenging market environment. The luxury sector faces headwinds from declining Chinese consumer confidence and broader industry slowdown, with growth forecasts of just 1-3 percent through 2027.