Lululemon names new brand, strategy chiefs amid leadership shuffle
Lululemon is continuing to shakeup its C-suite under its new CEO.
The athleisurewear brand has announced the appointment of Ben Hallam as chief brand officer, effective Nov. 9, along with the appointment of Emily Sunderland as chief strategy officer, effective Nov. 23.
Hallam will join Lululemon’s senior leadership team and report to CEO Heidi O'Neill, who took the reins of the company in September following a 27-year career at Nike. As chief brand officer, he will lead Lululemon’s global brand marketing, brand creative, store experience, and community, including sports marketing, partnerships and social impact.
Hallam joins Lululemon from Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels, where he spent the past three years as the chief marketing officer. His previous roles include stints at New World Development Company Limited, Shangri-La Group and Airbnb.
"Ben brings an exceptional combination of creative vision, commercial discipline, and experience transforming iconic, premium brands at scale," said O'Neill. "He has led brand, marketing, and creative teams across markets, and has a deep understanding of culture and how to connect with consumers globally.”
Incoming chief strategy officer Emily Sunderland will report to chief financial officer Meghan Frank. She joins Lululemon from Boston Consulting Group, where she spent more than a decade in a variety of roles.
The leadership appointments are the latest of several for the brand. In October, Lululemon appointed Maggie Gauger as president and chief product officer, and Joseph Godsey as chief operating officer. Nikki Neuburger, chief brand & product activation officer, and Ted Dagnese, chief supply chain officer, departed the company effective Nov. 6.
[READ MORE: Big C-suite shakeup at Lululemon under new CEO; Walmart, Nike vets join team]
The brand added that searches remain underway for a chief technology officer and a chief communications officer.
In its most-recent quarterly report, Lululemon’s second-quarter sales fell 4% to $2.4 billion. Comparable sales in the Americas were down 12%, with a 3% decline internationally. Profits fell 11.2% to $329.2 million.
