Gabbana exits boardroom but stays in studio
Stefano Gabbana resigned as chairman of Dolce & Gabbana effective 1 January 2026, according to a regulatory filing first reported by Reuters. The fashion house, which Gabbana co-founded with Domenico Dolce in 1985, confirmed the departure on 10 April, characterising it as part of a natural evolution of its organisational structure and governance.
Gabbana will continue in a creative capacity, meaning day-to-day design responsibilities remain intact even as his formal governance role lapses. The separation of creative and boardroom functions is a common structural shift for founder-led luxury groups as they mature or prepare for ownership changes.
The more consequential question for investors and lenders is what Gabbana does with his 40% stake. The Guardian reported that he is actively considering options for that holding ahead of negotiations with bank lenders, a detail that Bloomberg also flagged in its coverage. The nature of those options — whether a partial sale, a refinancing of personal debt secured against the stake, or a broader restructuring of the company's cap table — was not disclosed in the available sources.
Dolce & Gabbana remains privately held, with Domenico Dolce holding the other major founding interest. Any transaction involving Gabbana's stake would be a significant event for a house that has long resisted external capital.
