In an interview with Corriere della Sera daily published on Monday, Armani said it took 5 years to figure out "the right architecture" for his succession, but still did not say who would replace him at the helm of the company.
The 83-year old entrepreneur said that sales at the group, Italy's second biggest fashion house after Prada, will fall by 5 percent both this year and next and will start growing again from 2019.
(Reporting by Giulia Segreti)