Calvin McDonald becomes the CEO of lululemon and will also serve on company’s Board of Directors, effective August 20, 2018.
Born and educated in Canada, Calvin is a growth-oriented leader who helps large organizations scale by integrating how brands engage with customers where they shop—in stores, across digital channels, and from their home. He prioritizes developing talent and leveraging what’s unique in each culture.
Prior to joining lululemon, Calvin served for five years as president and CEO of Sephora Americas, a recognized growth engine within the LVMH family of luxury brands. Under his leadership, Sephora delivered double-digit growth year after year and became the market leader in North and South America. Specific strategies included: expanding product offerings, establishing digital and mobile platforms recognized within the industry, and creating innovative in-store experiences for customers that led to a loyalty program with more than 25 million members. The brand also launched a home subscription model and expanded further in global markets, such as Brazil and Mexico. Sephora employees ranked Calvin as one of the top 50 CEOs to work for each year, from 2015 to 2017, on Glassdoor.com.
Earlier in his career, Calvin spent two years as President and CEO of Sears Canada, achieving positive retail comps for the first time in five years at the publicly-traded retailer. He also honed a broad range of retail and leadership skills during a 17-year period at Loblaw Companies Limited, the largest retailer in Canada. Among his management roles at Loblaws, he led a business unit with approximately 40,000 employees responsible for $15 billion in annual revenue and expanded the President’s Choice private label brand.
Calvin currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cole Haan, as well as the National Retail Federation. He earned an MBA from the University of Toronto, and Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Calvin is an endurance athlete who frequently competes in ironman distance triathlons and marathons. He and his wife, Andrea, met in university and have four children.