Domenico De Sole

Director of Pirelli since 31 August 2017

Born in 1944.

Mr. De Sole graduated in 1966 from the law school of the “Sapienza” University in Rome in 1966 and received an LLM from Harvard University in 1972. He was a partner in the Washington DC law firm of Patton, Boggs and Blow.

In 1986 Mr. De Sole became President of Gucci America and from 1994 to 2004 served as the 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 multibrand luxury group 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 was sold to Estee Lauder, it’s 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 served on the Boards of Bausch and Lomb, Gap Inc, Delta Airlines, Procter & Gamble, Newell Brands, Conde Nast and Telecom Italia.

He serves on the Boards of Pirelli, Zegna S.p.A., Thom Browne, TOD’s Group and the American Academy of Rome.

He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Harvard Law School. In November 2023, Mr. De Sole received the CFDA’s Founder’s Award for his lifetime contribution to the fashion industry.