In April 2026, lululemon announced proven brand builder Heidi O'Neill as its next Chief Executive Officer. Heidi will begin as CEO and join the Board effective September 8, 2026, and will be based in Vancouver, British Columbia at the company’s global headquarters.
Who is Heidi O'Neill?
Heidi O'Neill is an industry veteran with four decades of both growth and turnaround experience in the athletic apparel industry. She is the right leader at the right time for lululemon, uniquely suited to drive best-in-class product innovation, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world at scale, while maintaining operational rigor and excellence.
Heidi played a central role at Nike as the company scaled from a $9B+ business into a $45B+ global leader. She spent more than 15 years directly running apparel, merchandising, design, and innovation businesses through a period of rapid growth, including establishing and building the company’s Women's business into a multibillion-dollar franchise. Most recently, Heidi was responsible for resetting the brand’s foundation while reducing product development timelines and accelerating speed to market.
Prior to that, Heidi led Dockers brand marketing efforts while at Levi Strauss & Co., and her long tenured global view of successful business transformations has been informed by board roles at major consumer-facing companies, including Spotify and Hyatt.
After a comprehensive search process that included formal assessments and interviews with multiple qualified candidates, as well as extensive referral conversations, the lululemon Board of Directors unanimously determined Heidi’s unique balance of creativity and operational discipline made her an ideal match at this pivotal moment.
In her own words: “What I love most about leading a business is that the work that matters is built together. It’s messy. It’s collaborative. And it’s fun. And when the product is right, when the team is right — there is nothing better.”
Why is Heidi right for lululemon?
lululemon's next chapter of success requires a leader who understands the intersection of product innovation, design, and consumer connection. Heidi's experience is anchored precisely there, with a strong track record of transforming and growing brands at scale, delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives, and serving as a knowledgeable change agent. Her unique skillset, deep respect for the lululemon brand, and colleague, peer, and direct report recommendations clearly distinguished her during the Board's search process.
Heidi has committed to listening and learning, deepening trust with stakeholders, and facing challenges collaboratively as a global lululemon team, looking to the guest as her north star.
In her own words: "Forty years in this industry taught me to recognize something rare when I see it. lululemon is rare – the product, the culture, and the connection this brand has with its guests.”
What others are saying about Heidi
“Heidi is a visionary, consumer-focused leader who has overseen product and design, brand strategy, marketing, digital, retail and global operations with the breadth and depth of experience across the full value chain. Her unique talents and skillsets will build on lululemon’s strong foundation, while enhancing our strategy, strengthening our brand health and continuing our efforts to accelerate growth.” – Marti Moffit, Executive Chair, lululemon Board of Directors
"Heidi is one of those rare people who can hold two things at once — real creative vision and the discipline to execute. She builds brands from the inside out, grounded in what people actually feel and want, and she doesn't stop when she's already won." – Daniel Ek, Founder & Executive Chairman, Spotify
“Heidi operates at the highest levels – inspiring and leading global teams, scaling retail and community ecosystems, building culturally resonant brands and bringing all of these together into a cohesive growth engine.” – Mindy Grossman, Partner, Vice Chair Consello Group, Former CEO WW, HSNi
“Heidi has brought an invaluable perspective to our board, rooted in her experience creating real emotional connections between brands and consumers, along with a clear, future-focused global vision. Congratulations to lululemon on gaining a thoughtful strategist with a deeply consumer-first mindset to lead the business into its next chapter." — Mark Hoplamazian, CEO, Hyatt
In the news
Bloomberg: Lululemon’s CEO Says She’s Being Underestimated
Retail Dive: Is Heidi O’Neill exactly what Lululemon needs?
The Wall Street Journal: Lululemon Is Picking a Former Nike Executive to Be Its Next CEO