Stefano Gabbana Resigns as President of Dolce & Gabbana Amid Debt Restructuring

Stefano Gabbana resigned from all executive positions at Dolce & Gabbana effective January 1, 2026, the Italian fashion group confirmed on April 10, stepping down from his roles at Dolce & Gabbana Holding Srl, Dolce & Gabbana Trademarks Srl, and Dolce & Gabbana Srl. The group described the move as part of "a natural path of organizational and governance evolution," confirming a report first published by Bloomberg. Alfonso Dolce, brother of co-founder Domenico Dolce and the group's current chief executive officer, assumed the presidency. Gabbana, 63, will retain his creative role at the house, with the group stating explicitly that the resignations "have no influence on the creative activities carried out in favor of the Group" by him. The announcement came months after the resignation itself took effect, with the Italian fashion house notifying the local chamber of commerce retroactively, according to Der Spiegel.

Debt restructuring talks cast shadow over leadership change The leadership transition coincides with a critical financial juncture for the group, which is negotiating a restructuring of approximately 450 (million euros) — Dolce & Gabbana bank debt under restructuring in bank debt, according to Bloomberg. The group is simultaneously seeking new funds of up to 150 million euros to strengthen liquidity. On the question of debt, the company stated it "has nothing to declare at the moment as the negotiation with the banks is still ongoing." Rothschild & Co. is serving as the group's financial advisor in the negotiations. The company is also weighing the sale of real estate assets and the renewal of licenses as additional measures to raise cash. The group reported revenues of 1.9 (billion euros) — Dolce & Gabbana revenues in 2024-2025 in the 2024-2025 period, but has faced margin pressure alongside other Italian luxury houses amid a broader sector slowdown linked to geopolitical tensions.

Dolce & Gabbana financial position: Bank debt (before: 450M euros (pre-restructuring), after: Restructuring negotiations ongoing with banks); New liquidity sought (before: 150M euros injected in prior refinancing, after: Up to 150M euros in new funds sought); Presidency (before: Stefano Gabbana, after: Alfonso Dolce (from January 1, 2026))

Gabbana weighs options for his 40% stake Both Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce each hold a stake of approximately 40% in the group, with the remaining 20% held by the Dolce family, according to reporting by the Czech outlet Novinky. Bloomberg reported that Gabbana is evaluating options for his stake, including a potential sale, a development that analysts and observers describe as opening a crucial phase for the maison. The two founders co-created the brand in 1985 and remained business partners even after ending their personal relationship roughly two decades ago. Both appeared together publicly at the house's women's fashion show in Milan at the end of February 2026, according to multiple reports. Domenico Dolce and Gabbana continue to share responsibility for the creative direction of the company regardless of the governance changes.

Dolce & Gabbana was founded in 1985 in Legnano by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The two designers were also a couple privately until the mid-2000s, according to Der Spiegel, but continued as business partners after their separation. The brand built its global reputation through associations with celebrities including Madonna, and more recently Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who wore a Dolce & Gabbana corset at her wedding in Venice. The group underwent a debt refinancing in the period preceding the current negotiations, taking on new loans of 150 million euros to invest in beauty and real estate, and obtained a waiver on certain debt requirements at that time.

Cantino expected to reinforce a management team in transition To strengthen the leadership structure, the name of Stefano Cantino, former chief executive officer of Gucci, has been circulating as a potential addition to the management team, according to multiple sources including ANSA and Novinky. Cantino was named CEO of Gucci by Kering in October 2024, according to web search results. The group has not officially confirmed his appointment at Dolce & Gabbana. The broader restructuring effort also includes exploration of expansion into cosmetics and hospitality as revenue diversification strategies, according to Novinky. The luxury sector has faced a prolonged slowdown, with geopolitical tensions — including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East — cited as contributing factors eroding margins across Italian fashion houses. The Dolce & Gabbana group faces the challenge of navigating its financial restructuring while managing a significant governance transition at the same time.