Managing a World Class Business: The Intersection of Fashion and Finance, Domenico De Sole, retired chairperson of TOM FORD International

The Mendoza College of Business presents Managing a World Class Business: The Intersection of Fashion and Finance, with Domenico De Sole, retired chairperson of TOM FORD International, former President and CEO of Gucci Group. The talk is part of the Dean’s Speaker Series which features senior executives from top global companies across diverse industries who share unique insights on leadership.

Domenico De Sole is an Italian-American businessman and retired chairperson of TOM FORD International, a role he held since the company was founded. Mr. De Sole is the former President and CEO of Gucci Group and former Chairman of the Board of Sotheby’s.

He became a partner at the Washington DC firm Patton, Boggs & Blow. One of his clients in the early 1980s was Rodolfo Gucci, the son of Gucci’s founder, Guccio Gucci, who asked Mr. De Sole to join the company as CEO of Gucci America in 1984. He remained in New York for 10 years when he moved to Italy as Gucci’s worldwide Chief Operating Officer. The following year he was appointed President and CEO.

Following his departure from Gucci, Mr. De Sole and Mr. Ford founded TOM FORD International in 2006. It quickly became a leading luxury company and was successfully sold to Estee Lauder in April 2023 for $2.8 billion.

Lecture is free and open to students, faculty, staff and the public. No registration or tickets required.

The Dean’s Speaker Series is sponsored by the Eugene Clark Distinguished Lecture Series endowment.