John Galantic, the American executive who was appointed chief executive of Tod’s in September 2024 with a mandate to modernise the Italian luxury house, has departed the company after less than two years in the role, citing personal reasons. His exit, confirmed by the company at the end of April, leaves the brand known for its Gommino driving shoe and leather goods without a permanent CEO at a moment when the broader luxury sector is navigating a profound slowdown.
Galantic’s tenure, though brief, was not without impact. He arrived from Coach, where he had served as president and chief operating officer, bringing a distinctly American sensibility to a company that had long operated under the singular vision of its founder and chairman, Diego Della Valle. His mandate included expanding Tod’s retail footprint in the United States, strengthening its digital infrastructure, and refreshing the brand’s image for a younger demographic — all while preserving the artisanal heritage that defines the house’s leather craftsmanship.
The departure raises questions about succession at a group that has historically been run with the tight grip of its founding family. Della Valle, now 71, has not signalled a desire to step back, and no successor has been announced. The company’s recent performance has been mixed: Tod’s has maintained a loyal following for its core leather goods and footwear, but has struggled to capture the cultural imagination of younger luxury consumers in the way that rivals like Loewe or Bottega Veneta have managed.
What the brief Galantic chapter reveals is the tension at the heart of heritage Italian luxury: the conflict between the entrepreneurial instinct of a founding family and the institutional discipline required to compete at a global scale. Tod’s does not need a revolution — its products remain among the most beautifully constructed in the industry. But it needs a coherent narrative that connects the tactile pleasure of its leather to a contemporary vision of Italian living. The next CEO will have to provide that vision, and quickly.
