Lululemon announced Wednesday that Athleta CEO Maggie Gauger will join the company as president and chief product officer, effective later this month. The move marks the latest shakeup among top executives in the increasingly competitive athleisure space: Gauger joined Athleta from Nike just last year. Lululemon said Gauger’s job is a newly created role. He also named Joseph Godsey chief operating officer. In addition to the new announcements, Lululemon also said that Nikki Neuburger, the company’s director of brand and product activation, and Ted Dagnese, its chief supply chain officer, will leave in November to “pursue other opportunities.” “We are establishing a deeply experienced leadership team that will work in a more coordinated manner, aligned around the strategy and execution that creates the greatest impact for our guests, our communities 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 to create a stronger portfolio of differentiated products to raise the bar for our guests at every touchpoint, in stores and online.” In a statement provided to CNBC, Athleta’s parent company, Gap, confirmed that Gauger has left the company. He said Erika Everett, the brand’s current chief marketing officer, will oversee the brand’s CEO role in the interim. “We have been actively shaping Athleta’s next chapter and the changes necessary to position the brand for long-term growth,” Gap said in its statement. “This transition allows us to accelerate that work, strengthen our connection with customers and unlock Athleta’s full potential.” Separately, Lululemon said it is also looking for a chief brand officer, a chief communications officer and a 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 battle, drawing criticism from founder Chip Wilson.
