With Gucci revenues in free fall, creative director Sabato De Sarno exits the brand as company leaders assert control to restore Gucci to luxury greatness.

Gucci announced on Thursday that its creative director of under two years, Sabato De Sarno, has left the position just two and a half weeks before the next runway show, and that the new collection would be created by the design team.

As Sabato De Sarno’s exit from the Italian house triggers an avalanche of rumours about his successor, we lay out the key priorities for the role.