Stefano Gabbana Has Quietly Resigned as Chairman of Dolce & Gabbana

Summary

• Stefano Gabbana, co-founder of the Italian luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana, has officially resigned from his role as chairman of the company
• While the resignation occurred in December 2025, it was only recently made public ahead of the brand’s upcoming debt negotiations with creditors
• Domenico Dolce’s brother, Alfonso Dolce, has assumed the role of chairman, while former Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino is rumored to be joining the top management team

A major shift in leadership is underway at one of Italy’s most recognizable luxury fashion houses. Stefano Gabbana, the co-founder of Dolce & Gabbana, has officially resigned from his long-held position as chairman. According to recent Italian corporate filings, the 63-year-old designer actually stepped down from the role in December 2025, though the quiet departure is only now being made public. As the company prepares for a critical round of debt negotiations, Gabbana is reportedly weighing alternative options regarding his massive 40 percent stake in the brand.

Following Gabbana’s resignation, the company has kept its leadership structure within the founding family. Alfonso Dolce, Domenico Dolce’s brother and the brand’s current CEO, officially took over as chairman in January 2026. Meanwhile, a broader management reshuffle appears to be on the horizon, with reports indicating that former Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino may be stepping in to take on a top management role, though an official announcement has yet to be made.

Financially, the heritage design house—which Gabbana co-founded with his then-partner Domenico Dolce in 1985—is currently at a critical juncture. Dolce & Gabbana is carrying approximately €450 million in debt and is actively entering a new round of talks with its bank lenders, advised by Rothschild & Co. As part of this sweeping refinancing strategy, the company is attempting to refinance €300 million EUR through 2030 while securing a fresh injection of up to €150 million EUR to support the ongoing expansion of the brand’s lucrative beauty and fragrance division.

Despite the brand’s history of public controversies and backlash over the years, Gabbana’s recent resignation does not appear to be tied to any new scandal or offensive remarks. Instead, it marks a strategic corporate pivot as the company explores the potential disposal of real estate assets and the renewal of licenses to raise necessary funds amidst a broader slowdown in the luxury market. Notably, stepping down from the corporate board in December did not keep the designer away from the runway. Gabbana remained a highly visible creative force just months later, taking his customary bow alongside Domenico Dolce at the conclusion of the brand’s February 2026 Milan Fashion Week show—a spectacular event highlighted by a surprise front-row arrival from pop icon and longtime muse, Madonna.

It remains unclear whether Gabbana’s exit as chairman signals a complete departure from the brand’s day-to-day operations or just a step back from corporate governance. Moving forward, all eyes will be on his 40% stake and the company’s upcoming refinancing efforts.