Lululemon announced Wednesday that Athleta CEO Maggie Gauger is joining the company as president and chief product officer, effective this month.
The move marks the latest shakeup among top executives in the increasingly competitive sports space: Gauger joined Athleta from Nike just last year.
Lululemon said Gauger’s duties are a newly created role. It also appointed Joseph Godsey as chief operating officer. In addition to the recent announcement, Lululemon also said that Nikki Neuburger, chief brand and product activation officer, and Ted Dagnese, head of supply chain, will leave in November to “pursue other opportunities.”
“We are putting together an experienced leadership team that will work in a more coordinated way, aligned with strategy and execution that delivers the greatest impact for our guests, our community and our business,” Lululemon CEO Heidi O’Neill said in a statement. “That starts with putting product, design, and innovation at the center of how we operate, with the focus and responsibility of creating a stronger differentiated product pipeline to raise the bar for guests at every touchpoint, in-store and online.”
In a statement provided to CNBC, Athleta’s parent company gap confirmed that Gauger had left the company. It said Erika Everett, the brand’s current head of marketing, will oversee the brand’s CEO role in the interim.
“We have been actively shaping the next chapter of Athleta and the changes necessary to position the brand for long-term growth,” Gap said in a statement. “This transition allows us to accelerate our work, strengthen our relationship with our customers, and unlock Athleta’s full potential.”
Separately, Lululemon said it is also looking for a chief brand officer, chief communications officer and chief technology officer.
O’Neill took the helm of Lululemon last month after the athleisure company saw more than a year of disappointing sales performance amid a proxy war, drawing criticism from founder Chip Wilson.