Skip to main content
BoF Logo

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Why Lululemon’s CEO Is Stepping Down

Slowing growth, rising costs and a loud campaign from its outspoken founder set the stage for Calvin McDonald’s exit. It may be the athleisure giant’s best hope to regain its cultural momentum.
Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald
Under Calvin McDonald's seven-year tenure, Lululemon annual sales tripled to $10.6 billion. (Getty)

Lululemon chief executive Calvin McDonald just learned the hard way that in fashion, cool sometimes speaks louder than numbers on an income statement.

Please sign in to ensure you can read our agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice. Or get in touch at support@businessoffashion.com if you experience difficulties.

Further Reading

At Lululemon, Being Black Is ‘Off-Brand’

Like many companies in fashion and other industries, the $50 billion yoga apparel brand created a new department in 2020 it said would help improve its diversity and inclusion and create a more equitable playing field for minorities. In interviews with BoF, 14 current and former Black employees said things have only worsened since then.

About the author
Cathaleen Chen
Cathaleen Chen

Cathaleen Chen is Retail Editor at The Business of Fashion. She is based in New York and drives BoF’s coverage of the retail and direct-to-consumer sectors.

In This Article
Organisations

© 2026 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Retail
Analysis and advice from the front lines of the retail transformation.
view more
Latest News & Analysis
Unrivalled, world class journalism across fashion, luxury and beauty industries.

What Stops Beauty Shoppers From Buying More

Beauty brands must rethink upselling with smarter value plays, from curated bundles to jumbo sizes and subscriptions, to keep their customers from switching to the competition.


Who Won Fashion’s Red Carpet Season of Change

Sunday night’s Oscars concluded an awards season that fashion’s biggest labels used to show off their new creative game. BoF breaks down what we learned about brands’ celebrity strategies.


VIEW MORE
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON