After only two years, Sabato De Sarno is taking his final bow at Gucci. Having risen from relative obscurity to fill the vacancy left by Alessandro Michele, De Sarno shifted Gucci’s aesthetic away from the floral maximalism of Michele to a more sexy and sleek brand. His most significant development, and perhaps the reason why he’ll now be remembered, was the introduction of Ancora Red as the brand’s signature colour.

In a statement, Stefano Cantino, CEO of Gucci, said: “I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sabato for his passion and dedication to Gucci. I sincerely appreciate how he honored Gucci’s craftsmanship and heritage with such commitment.”

Who exactly will replace De Sarno is anybody’s guess but his departure will trigger another round of the creative and artistic director musical chairs that has dominated fashion for the past year.