Report: Ex-CEO contributed to ‘toxic’ work environment at Lululemon
A report provides some insights into the recent change in leadership at Lululemon.
On Feb. 5, the yoga-wear and athleisure retailer announced that Laurent Potdevin has resigned as CEO, effective immediately, saying Potdevin’s conduct “fell short” of the company’s standards. A new report by Racked cites current and former employees who describe the company’s “ toxic work environment,” and allege that misconduct was enabled for years by Lululemon’s human resources department — embodied by its ex-CEO.
According to the report, Potdevin had a years-long relationship with an employee, a designer, who was given preferential treatment at the company. Also, Potdevin was known for his “wild night life,” the report said, and would often invite employees to his house or hotel rooms to drink.
“Others say that in addition to “conducting himself inappropriately when drinking at work functions,” the ex-CEO promoted a cutthroat, competitive environment in which employees would fight to gain access to his inner circle,” Racked stated.
The report also said that Potdevin "basically turned Lululemon’s executive team into a boy’s club overnight."
Click here to read more.
On Feb. 5, the yoga-wear and athleisure retailer announced that Laurent Potdevin has resigned as CEO, effective immediately, saying Potdevin’s conduct “fell short” of the company’s standards. A new report by Racked cites current and former employees who describe the company’s “ toxic work environment,” and allege that misconduct was enabled for years by Lululemon’s human resources department — embodied by its ex-CEO.
According to the report, Potdevin had a years-long relationship with an employee, a designer, who was given preferential treatment at the company. Also, Potdevin was known for his “wild night life,” the report said, and would often invite employees to his house or hotel rooms to drink.
“Others say that in addition to “conducting himself inappropriately when drinking at work functions,” the ex-CEO promoted a cutthroat, competitive environment in which employees would fight to gain access to his inner circle,” Racked stated.
The report also said that Potdevin "basically turned Lululemon’s executive team into a boy’s club overnight."
Click here to read more.