The former Prada executive joins Kering’s London-based fashion house as it pursues a turnaround strategy focused on profitability and brand repositioning
Kering has named Gianfranco D’Attis chief executive officer of Alexander McQueen, tasking the veteran luxury executive with leading the British fashion house through its next phase of transformation.
Effective immediately, D’Attis will be based in London and report directly to Kering chief executive officer Luca de Meo. He succeeds Gianfilippo Testa, who will leave the group later this year.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Alexander McQueen, which has struggled with declining performance and profitability in recent years. Kering said D’Attis will focus on strengthening the brand’s positioning, improving execution, and restoring financial performance.
“Gianfranco brings a powerful combination of strategic vision, operational rigor and deep luxury expertise,” said de Meo in a statement. “His ability to sharpen brand identity while driving disciplined execution will be critical as we refocus Alexander McQueen and unlock its full potential.”
D’Attis joins the house after serving as chief executive officer of Prada, where he became the first non-family executive to hold the position. During his tenure, Prada credited him with strengthening brand desirability and implementing a more client-focused approach. Prior to Prada, he held senior leadership roles including President of Christian Dior Couture Americas and International Managing Director of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
His arrival follows a period of significant restructuring at Alexander McQueen. Earlier this year, de Meo acknowledged the scale of the challenges facing the brand, citing an oversized global retail network and a heavy reliance on sneaker sales that at one point accounted for the majority of revenue. Kering has since undertaken a strategic review of McQueen’s operations aimed at returning the business to sustainable profitability.
The restructuring has included proposed workforce reductions in Italy and plans to streamline the brand’s store network. According to previous comments from de Meo, more than half of Alexander McQueen’s approximately 135 stores worldwide could potentially be closed or reassigned to other Kering-owned brands as part of the turnaround effort.
With more than 25 years of experience across luxury fashion, watches, and retail, D’Attis now takes the helm of one of Kering’s most closely watched brands. His appointment signals the group’s continued focus on restoring growth and strengthening the long-term positioning of Alexander McQueen within the global luxury market.