Brands
Dolce & Gabbana brings in ex-Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino as co-CEO
Luxury house shifts to dual leadership as it eyes lifestyle expansion
MILAN: Dolce & Gabbana has appointed Stefano Cantino as co-chief executive officer, marking a significant leadership shift as the Italian brand looks to evolve beyond fashion into a broader lifestyle business.
Cantino will share the top role with Alfonso Dolce, who has also taken on the position of chairman. The move formalises a dual leadership structure aimed at steering the company through its next phase of growth.
The appointment follows the earlier transition of co-founder Stefano Gabbana, who stepped down from management roles, including chairman, effective January 1, 2026. Gabbana will continue to focus solely on creative direction, alongside co-founder Domenico Dolce.
Cantino brings extensive luxury industry experience to the role. He most recently served as chief executive officer at Gucci, following a stint as deputy CEO. Prior to that, he spent nearly two decades at Prada Group in senior marketing and communications roles, and later held leadership responsibilities at Louis Vuitton.
The leadership overhaul comes at a pivotal moment for Dolce & Gabbana. The company is navigating a challenging luxury market while reportedly working to refinance debt of around €450 million. The shift to a co-CEO model signals a sharper focus on operational strength and global brand expansion.
By bringing in a seasoned executive with deep expertise in brand building and communications, the company is aiming to accelerate its transformation into a full-fledged lifestyle player, spanning categories beyond apparel.
As the luxury sector faces evolving consumer expectations and economic pressures, Dolce & Gabbana’s latest move suggests a clear intent to balance creative heritage with strategic reinvention.
Brands
Ravikant Sabnavis steps down as CEO of Arha Media after three years
Exit marks end of stint leading regional OTT platform ARHA’s turnaround
MUMBAI: Ravikant Sabnavis has stepped down as chief executive officer of Arha Media & Broadcasting, drawing the curtain on a three-year stint during which he led the regional OTT platform Aha through a key phase of transformation.
Sabnavis, who joined Arha Media in February 2023, is credited with steering a financial turnaround at Aha, a platform focused on Telugu and Tamil content. His tenure saw efforts to stabilise operations and sharpen the platform’s positioning in an increasingly competitive streaming market.
His exit also signals a pause, and perhaps a pivot, in a long career spanning media, marketing and business transformation. Alongside his corporate roles, Sabnavis has been actively mentoring startups and entrepreneurs, working closely with early-stage ventures as part of networks such as TiE Mumbai and the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Before Arha Media, he served as CEO of Innovative Oral Care, where he built a direct-to-consumer oral care business leveraging clinical expertise. Earlier, at Star TV, he led regional channel Star Pravah, driving a turnaround that pushed it to a leading position in its category.
His career also includes a stint as managing director at Blitz Multimedia Pvt Ltd, where he worked on repositioning legacy media brands and unlocking new revenue streams.
While Sabnavis has not publicly outlined his next move, his continued involvement in mentoring and investing suggests he may stay close to the startup ecosystem.
For Arha Media, the leadership change comes at a time when regional OTT platforms are recalibrating for scale and sustainability. Sabnavis leaves behind a platform that is steadier than when he arrived, even as the next chapter for both the company and the executive begins to take shape.
