Pangaia Appoints Daniel Gómez CEO, Announces Head of Design Ahead of Launch

Pangaia has appointed Daniel Gómez as chief executive officer and tapped Kevin Grandal as creative director ahead of a seasonal product rollout timed with Milan Fashion Week, as the materials-science-focused label reorganizes under new ownership after sales fell 42 percent to $37.1 million from a $76 million peak in 2020. Sources report the leadership slate will drive a shift from a hype-driven model toward defined retail expansion, distribution growth and product diversification.

Gómez, who appears in some records as Daniel Gomez Rojas, brings a digital and omnichannel résumé that includes Inditex — where he served as director of e-commerce and omnichannel for Russia from 2011 to 2018 — followed by a role as director of digital for fashion, accessories and joint ventures at Chalhoub Group from 2018 to 2021. In recent years he has overseen digital operations for Middle East groups including AlMalki Group, TXT and Stealth Company, and his early career includes positions at Wasabi Comunicación and Do & Co, with academic credentials that include a journalism degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and a corporate innovation certificate from Stanford University.

Reflecting on the move, Gómez said, “I am deeply honored to join Pangaia as chief executive officer. I was inspired by Pangaia’s bold vision to demonstrate that fashion can move beyond consumption, becoming a platform for innovation, responsibility, and cultural impact.” Industry outlets expect his brief to include stabilising retail operations and steering the brand’s product pyramid away from one-off drops toward a core seasonal offering.

Kevin Grandal, described by coverage as a 1017 Alyx 9SM alum, will oversee all of Pangaia’s lines, including seasonal collections that form the base of the label’s product pyramid and Pangaia Collective, the collaboration-led line of limited-edition drops. WWD reports Grandal’s design vision will debut at Pangaia’s first Milan Fashion Week presentation this week, and that recent Pangaia collaborations have included the Phia personal shopping assistant app and the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

The appointments come as Aurora Vision Group, which sources describe as part of Abu Dhabi’s Royal Group, has taken a controlling stake in Pangaia. Melissa Moncada of Aurora Vision Group framed the hires as a new chapter, saying, “Aurora’s vision is to empower transformative brands that shape a better future through innovation and sustainability. As the new controlling stakeholder and leader of Pangaia, we are proud to support Daniel’s appointment as CEO. We are confident that under his leadership, Pangaia will continue to inspire the industry by setting new standards in responsibility, creativity, and impact.”

Financial and timing context remains complex. Modaes reports Pangaia recorded losses of €50.4 million in 2022 and undertook a restructuring plan between 2023 and 2024, and it places Royal Group’s acquisition in early 2025. Other accounts note a controlling stake was taken in January and that Gómez was quietly tapped last year, with public-facing leadership notices emerging around late February 2026. The coming Milan presentation will be the first public test of the new chief executive and creative director’s strategy to translate sustainability credentials and celebrity visibility into a stabilized, structured fashion business.