In 1986, Mr. De Sole became President of Gucci America, and from 1994 to 2004, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gucci Group NV, which he took public in 1995. Under his leadership, Gucci became one of the largest and most profitable multi-brand luxury groups with the acquisition of Yves St. Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, etc.
In 2005, he cofounded and became chairman of Tom Ford International. In 2023, the company will be sold to Estee Lauder, its long-term licensing partner.
In 2015, Mr. De Sole was appointed Chairman of the Board of Sotheby’s until 2019, when the company was sold. He serves on the boards of Pirelli, Zegna S.p.A., Thom Browne, and the American Academy of Rome.
Mr. De Sole served on the boards of Bausch and Lomb, Gap Inc., Delta Airlines, Procter & Gamble, Newell Brands, Conde Nast, and Telecom Italia.
He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard Law School. In November 2023, Mr. De Sole received the CFDA’s Founder’s Award for his lifetime contribution to the fashion industry.
