lululemon is placing footwear inside a newly created product leadership role as the company reshapes its senior team. Maggie Gauger will become president and chief product officer on October 26, with responsibility spanning design, merchandising, footwear, product innovation and materials science.
The structure brings product disciplines that can shape a shoe from concept through development under one executive. lululemon says the role is intended to strengthen its end-to-end product creation process and build a pipeline of distinctive products, with greater speed from product vision through execution.
Gauger joins from Athleta, where she served as president and CEO. Joseph Godsey will also join the senior leadership team as chief operating officer on October 26. The new operating role combines functions across the business as lululemon pursues closer coordination between product, brand and execution.
lululemon is also searching for chief brand and chief communications officers, alongside an existing search for a chief technology officer. Nikki Neuburger, chief brand and product activation officer, and Ted Dagnese, chief supply chain officer, are set to leave the company on November 6.
Bringing footwear into the chief product officer’s portfolio places shoe design alongside merchandising, product innovation and materials science at the senior leadership level.
