Observer | Lululemon’s Boardroom Fight With Founder Chip Wilson Gets Public—and Personal by Rachel Curry

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Lululemon’s founder and largest shareholder, Chip Wilson, is publicly pushing to overhaul the company’s board, proposing candidates from ESPN, Activision and sneaker brand On, while current leadership backs nominees from Levi Strauss, Unilever and Gap. Wilson argues the board lacks the “innovation and culture” skills needed to revive a brand he says has become “mass‑market, lower‑quality.” Lululemon rebuked his claims, calling his actions “damaging” and his perspectives “outdated.” The dispute comes amid a U.S. sales slowdown, a 4 % drop in North‑American revenue, an 8 % profit decline, and a two‑thirds loss in stock value since early 2025. CEO Calvin McDonald stepped down in December 2025; interim co‑CEOs Meghan Frank and André Maestrini are steering the firm until former Nike executive Heidi O’Neill assumes the role in September. Wilson, who founded the athleisure giant in 1998 and still holds about 8.6 % of its shares, has a history of controversial remarks and now seeks to reshape the board to “safeguard the company’s future.”

Read more: https://observer.com/2026/05/lululemon-founder-chip-wilson-boardroom-fight/

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