Chiara Baravalle appointed CEO as label renews long-term licensing partnership
Dsquared2 has announced changes to its leadership and business operations following its fall fashion show in Milan on Friday. The brand’s founders and designers, Dean and Dan Caten, have named Chiara Baravalle as the new chief executive officer, effective February 1. The company has also extended its licensing agreement with Staff International for the production and distribution of its ready-to-wear collections.
Baravalle comes to Dsquared2 from Forel, an operational investment firm established by former Gucci president and chief executive officer Marco Bizzarri, where she oversaw strategy, investments, and portfolio development. Prior to this, she worked as general manager at Elisabetta Franchi, and earlier, served as chief of staff to Bizzarri at Gucci, participating in the brand’s executive committee and leading global strategic initiatives. She has also worked at Bain & Company within the fashion and luxury sector and began her career in Silicon Valley. Baravalle is a graduate of Stanford University and holds U.S., Italian, and French citizenship.
The position of CEO at Dsquared2 had been vacant since the departure of general manager Ennio Fontana in February 2024, following a tenure of less than a year. Fontana succeeded Sergio Azzolari, who left to become CEO of Roberto Cavalli.
In a memo to employees, the Caten twins expressed appreciation for their team’s efforts during a year marked by uncertainty. They wrote that Baravalle would define a strategy “that establishes a clear roadmap and ensures the longevity of Dsquared2 as a brand and a business. Chiara’s arrival marks the moment we step into a new era of clarity, ambition and energy, while staying true to our essence. The priority for 2026 is straightforward: setting the foundation for the next chapter. More concretely, this means reactivating the brand and stabilizing the business. Critically, we need to move forward with purpose, as one team moving in the same direction.”
Dsquared2 has also renewed its licensing agreement with Staff International, a subsidiary of the OTB Group. The partnership, first established in 2000 and last renewed in 2020 through 2027, will now continue for an additional five years, extending until the fall 2031 season. The Catens commented, “This renewal underscores the strength of a partnership built over time and our confidence in its future. As we redefine Dsquared2’s brand strategy, the continued support of a long-term partner who understands our creative vision is essential.”
Ubaldo Minelli, CEO of OTB Group and Staff International, said, “The extension of this license allows us to build on our shared achievements and contribute to the success of the brand.”
The designers noted that “Dsquared2 is at a turning point, and we need to refocus our energy on the brand, where it matters most” to sustain future growth. They further stated, “The renewal of the license will allow the designers ‘to focus on strategically evolving the brand and redefining how we create desire and emotion for our consumers, without simultaneously being pulled into the operational complexities of internalizing production. While internalizing ready-to-wear production was a compelling prospect, we were misled on the feasibility of execution. In fact, the choice was not between internalizing production or not, but whether or not to safeguard this brand’s legacy and future.’”
This agreement follows a resolution of a legal dispute between Dsquared2 and Staff International in May of last year. The disagreement began when the designers announced plans to assume full control of the brand and end the licensing agreement ahead of its scheduled 2027 expiration, citing “breaches of contract” by Staff International, which were denied by the licensee. Two months later, both sides agreed to continue the partnership through 2027, and now have extended it further.
OTB Group’s portfolio includes brands such as Diesel, Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Marni, and Viktor & Rolf, along with the Brave Kid childrenswear business. OTB also holds a stake in Amiri.