lululemon(US:LULU) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-12-30 08:34Core Viewpoint - Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon Athletica, has initiated a proxy fight to nominate three independent directors to the company's board amid significant challenges, including a nearly 50% drop in stock price this year and intense competition from emerging brands like Alo Yoga and Vuori [1][4]. Group 1: Board Changes and CEO Transition - Wilson has nominated three candidates for the Lululemon board: Marc Maurer, former co-CEO of On Running; Laura Gentile, former CMO of ESPN; and Eric Hirshberg, former CEO of Activision Blizzard [4]. - In the interim, the board has appointed CFO Meghan Frank and CBO André Maestrini as co-CEOs while searching for a permanent successor to former CEO Calvin McDonald [4]. - Lululemon's board stated it will evaluate Wilson's nominations and has initiated a comprehensive CEO search process [5]. Group 2: Shareholder Concerns and Governance - Wilson expressed that the recent CEO transition reflects a third failure in board oversight and criticized the lack of a clear succession plan [5]. - Analysts suggest that adding three new board members could mitigate Wilson's ongoing criticism of the board, although only one nominee has direct experience in Lululemon's industry [5]. - Wilson holds 4.27% of Lululemon's shares and has previously called for a CEO with extensive product experience to restore the company's focus on product quality [7]. Group 3: Historical Context of Wilson's Involvement - Wilson has a history of pushing for board changes at Lululemon, having previously resigned from the board due to strategic conflicts and a public relations crisis in 2013 [7]. - In 2015, he avoided a proxy fight by selling a significant portion of his shares to a private equity firm in exchange for additional board seats [7].