Dive Brief:
- Lululemon is revamping its technology leadership as it eyes AI to improve customer experience and time to market, the athletic apparel retailer said Tuesday.
- The retailer has tapped Ranju Das for the newly created role of chief AI and technology officer, responsible for leading the company’s technology organization and driving the next phase of the company’s AI and technology strategy. Effective Sept. 2, Das will report to CEO Calvin McDonald and will join the senior leadership team.
- CIO Julie Averill will leave in September as part of a planned leadership transition, according to the company. The executive helped strengthen Lululemon’s technology foundation over the past eight years, initially joining as CTO. Before that, Averill was the first CIO at outdoor specialty retailer REI.
Dive Insight:
Retailers are going all in on AI, using the technology as a lever to drive growth and streamline processes.
“We see an exciting opportunity to further leverage AI and technology to advance our product innovation process, improve our agility and speed to market, and bring more engagement and personalization to our guest experience,” McDonald said in the Tuesday announcement.
The leadership revamp comes after a period of transformation.
“When I joined as CIO eight years ago, we were a $2B company bursting with potential,” Averill said in a Tuesday LinkedIn post. “Leading the technology transformation that helped scale us to $10.6B taught me something I’ll carry forever: sustainable transformation happens through people, amplified by technology, rooted in culture that outlasts any individual leader.”
Lululemon’s newest tech chief will join the company next week with over two decades of technology leadership experience. After starting his career as a software engineer, Das drove AI and technology strategy at UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Labs, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. He also founded AI healthcare startup Swan AI Studios in 2023.
“The opportunity to leverage technology and AI across the retail value chain to elevate how we serve our guests has never been greater,” Das said. “I look forward to working with Lululemon’s teams to advance the company’s data, technology, and AI strategies to drive ongoing growth, operational excellence, best-in-class product, and exceptional guest experiences.”
Businesses in the retail industry are sharpening their focus on technology amid challenging economic conditions, fueled by changing consumer spending patterns and trade policy concerns.
Lululemon saw its net revenue increase 7% to $2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, but comparable sales in the Americas decreased 2% during the period, which ended May 4.
Analysts are skeptical about some of the retailer’s approaches to reverse lackluster store visits and declining U.S. sales, Retail Dive reported last month.
“As we navigate the dynamic macroenvironment, we intend to leverage our strong financial position and competitive advantages to play offense, while we continue to invest in the growth opportunities in front of us,” McDonald said to investors in June during the Q1 earnings report.
