Lululemon Recruits Athleta CEO to Overhaul Product Leadership

Gauger’s transition, effective later this month, follows a brief tenure at the Gap-owned brand where she had only arrived from Nike last year. Her appointment coincides with the departure of two long-standing executives: chief brand and product activation officer Nikki Neuburger and chief supply chain officer Ted Dagnese. Both are exiting in November to pursue external opportunities, leaving a significant void that CEO Heidi O’Neill aims to fill with a more unified leadership structure.

Gap has tapped Erika Everett, currently the brand’s chief marketing officer, to lead Athleta on an interim basis while it searches for a permanent successor. Meanwhile, Lululemon is casting a wide net for additional talent, actively recruiting for chief brand, communications, and technology roles. These changes come shortly after O’Neill assumed the CEO position, a leadership shift intended to address persistent sales underperformance and appease investors following a high-profile proxy battle.