Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Lululemon Adds Former On, ESPN Execs to Board to Resolve Founder Fight

Lululemon shares gained more than 3% Wednesday.

Lululemon
Reuters

Lululemon will add to its board of directors a former On executive and the person who founded ESPN’s women-focused business to end a monthslong dispute with its polarizing founder Chip Wilson.

Under the deal, Lululemon will appoint to its board Marc Maurer, the recently departed co-CEO of Swiss sneaker brand On, as well as Laura Gentile, ESPN’s former chief marketing officer who founded espnW. They will formally join the board following Lululemon’s upcoming annual meeting of shareholders, on June 25. Lululemon has also pledged to add an additional board member with “product and brand expertise in apparel” to its board by Oct. 1 of this year.

Eric Hirshberg, former CEO of videogame giant Activision and the third person Wilson put forth, will not be added to the board.

Wilson—the 71-year-old founder of Lululemon who resigned from the Canadian company’s board of directors in 2015 but retained a roughly 8.7% stake—has agreed not to disparage the business for roughly 18 months. 

“The Board additions lululemon announced today and strategic changes already made by the team reflect meaningful progress toward restoring the company’s product-first vision and unlocking tremendous value for shareholders,” Wilson said in Wednesday’s press release.

Lululemon executive chair Marti Morfitt said the deal “allows lululemon to focus on continuing to strengthen its performance.”

The market reacted positively to the news, with Lululemon shares up more than 3% Wednesday afternoon.

The announcement ends a roughly five-month saga. In December Wilson said the company was in dire need of a board shake-up. He pressed shareholders to elect his nominees, who he said would bring “visionary creative leadership” needed so the company could “win back the confidence of its critical stakeholders and regain commercial momentum.”

In March, Lululemon posted net revenue of $11.1 billion for 2025, up 5% from the prior year, and said it expects 2026 net revenue to be between $11.35 billion and $11.5 billion, slightly below average analyst estimates. The company also at that time announced a new board member, former Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh.

One headache is gone, but another remains. Lululemon was sued on March 27 by a group of consumers who say they are owed a portion of the “hundreds of millions” of dollars in tariff refunds the company is supposed to get through its own lawsuit against the federal government.

A representative for Lululemon did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment, and Wilson could not immediately be reached.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
XXXY
Exclusive

Cunningham Controversy Sends XX-XY T-Shirt Sales Surging

Former Levi’s CMO says her brand has seen a huge boost.
Exclusive

Under Armour Did Not Renew WNBA Shoe Deal

Last year, Courtney Williams wore shoes without Moolah Kicks logos.
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; The New York Knicks fans celebrate after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs in game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.

Knicks Merch Sellers Struggle to Keep Up With Demand

“The hardest part is not keeping all the good vintage Knicks stuff for myself.”
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/15/26 – NFL Kickoff Ratings Dip, Ballmer Accepts Punishment, Sweeney Ad Backlash

0:00

Featured Today

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”
Aug 3, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) kisses the championship trophy during the trophy ceremony after her match against Jessica Pegula (USA) (not pictured) in the women's singles final of the 2026 Mubadala DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
August 30, 2026

How Alex Eala Turned the Philippines Into a Tennis Nation

A December homecoming match could break tennis’s attendance record.
Shoppers walk past a Nike store in the King of Prussia Mall, as global markets brace for a hit to trade and growth caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose import tariffs on dozens of countries, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 3, 2025.

What Nike’s ‘Embarrassing’ S&P 100 Exit Really Means

Nike’s turnaround is going slower than expected.
Adam Svensson balances a golf ball on his club while waiting to tee off from the 17th tee during the third round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort & Spa on Saturday, February 25, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
First at FOS
August 28, 2026

Good Good CEO Says He Didn’t See Controversial Ad Before it Aired

Good Good says it has parted with those responsible for the ad.
Exclusive
August 31, 2026

Callaway Content Head, Good Good Marketing VP Out After Ad Fallout

Neither Callaway’s nor Good Good’s CEO saw the ad before publishing.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
First at FOS
August 27, 2026

Good Good Golf Pulls Out of PGA Tour Sponsorship

The Austin event was to be called the Good Good Championship.
August 27, 2026

Callaway Drops Good Good Golf After Ad Fallout

Callaway and Good Good first partnered in 2023.
DICK'S sporting good store at Independence Mall in Wilmington, N.C.
August 26, 2026

Golf Galaxy, Dick’s Pull Good Good Merchandise Amid Ad Controversy

Good Good Golf faces retail fallout after its controversial ad.
July 2, 2026

Golf Brands Are Cashing In on America250-Themed Equipment

Callaway and TaylorMade rolled out collections with significant markups.