• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

3

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

3

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Leadership

Lululemon Is Looking For a New CEO Again. Here’s Who Might Be on the Shortlist

By
Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 6, 2018, 8:30 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

For the second time in four years, Lululemon Athletica (LULU) is looking for a new fit.

The high-end yogawear brand is seeking a chief executive officer at a time of intense scrutiny, a situation similar to the challenge it faced heading into 2014. Back then, the company was coming off a controversy over pants that became see-through when customers bent over — a plight made worse by insensitive remarks from its founder.

This time around, it’s looking to rebound after inappropriate workplace behavior by CEO Laurent Potdevin. The executive abruptly left the company in February in the wake of misconduct that was said to include a relationship with a subordinate.

Lululemon’s board must now find a replacement who can help the Vancouver-based company grow internationally while rehabilitating its internal culture.

“The search will involve a far more extensive background check,” said Mike Magsig, managing partner at executive-search firm DHR International Inc. “Even an inkling of questionable conduct in the past is going to be viewed as a major risk to the corporation.”

The good news: Lululemon is in a strong position to attract a new chief. The company is posting rapid growth and its stock has jumped almost 80% in the past year, making it an enviable place to be in a shaky retail environment. That gives the board a chance to select someone with deep experience, said Pamela Quintiliano, an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Many of the likely candidates are men, and that may not be ideal for a company with mostly female customers — especially given its gender-related missteps in recent years.

“If the best candidate is a woman, that would be phenomenal,” Quintiliano said. But a male CEO isn’t going to be a problem if he’s suited to the job, she said.

Here’s a look at several possibilities for Lululemon’s next leader.

Stefan Larsson

Larsson, who turns 44 this year, stepped down as Ralph Lauren’s CEO in 2017 after clashing with the company’s founder. Before that, he turned around Gap’s Old Navy business and helped attract younger shoppers interested in on-trend styles, including low-priced athletic wear. He also spent more than a decade at Hennes & Mauritz in various positions.

One thing that could give him a leg up: While at Gap, he worked alongside then-CEO Glenn Murphy, who is now serving as Lululemon’s executive chairman.

Carrie Ask

Ask, 48, leads Levi Strauss & Co.’s global retail business and works with its e-commerce team. Since 2016, she’s overseen several store openings and focused on bridging the brand’s online and brick-and-mortar presence.

The Navy veteran previously held leadership roles at Nike, its subsidiary Converse and retailers such as Target.

“She’s got every corporate check mark you want,” said Laurent Vasilescu, an analyst at Macquarie Capital USA.

David McCreight

McCreight, 55, had run Urban Outfitters’s Anthropologie business since 2011 — until the company announced Thursday he will leave his post on April 27. The executive has led an ambitious store expansion plan, aiming to entice shoppers with larger locations featuring bohemian-chic housewares and apparel.

Anthropologie caters to a female customer, a potential advantage transitioning to Lululemon. But he also has experience in sportswear, having served as president at Under Armour.

Sam Sato

The 54-year-old Sato, currently CEO of Finish Line, helped orchestrate a sale of the business to JD Sports Fashion last month. He may become a free agent once that $558 million deal is completed — an event that isn’t expected until at least June.

Sato has led Finish Line since 2016, giving him a sports background — though the chain is more focused on Nike sneakers than yoga pants. He also spent more than 20 years in various roles at Nordstrom Inc.

Satish Malhotra

Malhotra is chief operating officer at Sephora Americas, the cosmetics chain owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. A company veteran with almost two decades under his belt, he has been in his current position since 2016. With a business that’s hard to duplicate online, Sephora has weathered the threat from Amazon better than many retailers. And it’s set up shop inside other chains, such as J.C. Penney.

About the Author
By Bloomberg
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

bernie
PoliticsBook Excerpt
Bernie Sanders told me exactly why he had to run. The Democratic Party still isn’t listening
By Tad DevineJuly 7, 2026
1 hour ago
heat
Commentaryclimate change
McKinsey Global Institute: Climate planning has prioritized floods. Heat demands equal attention
By Sylvain Johansson, Mekala Krishnan, Kanmani Chockalingam and Annabel FarrJuly 7, 2026
2 hours ago
World Cup fever is real. This CEO is betting it’s not fleeting
NewslettersCEO Daily
World Cup fever is real. This CEO is betting it’s not fleeting
By Diane BradyJuly 7, 2026
3 hours ago
j
CommentaryEducation
AI didn’t break higher education—It exposed the credential trap
By Jason BenedictJuly 7, 2026
3 hours ago
Photo: Asha Sharma
North AmericaMarkets
Game over for 20% of Xbox staff as Microsoft hits reset: We ‘didn’t focus on the core business,’ CEO says. ‘We simply spread ourselves too thin.’
By Jim EdwardsJuly 7, 2026
4 hours ago
e
CommentaryEntrepreneurship
I skipped college and founded a company at 18. Several exits later, this is what I learned
By Eric FranciaJuly 7, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
AI
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 5, 2026
2 days ago
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
Success
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
By Preston ForeJuly 6, 2026
21 hours ago
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Success
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 6, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 6, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 6, 2026
1 day ago
Gen Z was 'jaded about employment before we ever entered the workforce'—now psychologists say the stare has hardened into something worse
Economy
Gen Z was 'jaded about employment before we ever entered the workforce'—now psychologists say the stare has hardened into something worse
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 6, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 6, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 6, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 6, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.