Lululemon chair Chip Wilson resigns after blaming women’s bodies for company’s woes

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      A month ago, the founder of lululemon athletica suggested to an interviewer that some women's bodies were to blame for the Vancouver-based company's see-through yoga pants fiasco. Then Chip Wilson added fuel to the backlash by releasing a pseudo-apology on video—one that apologized to the staff of lululemon, but not its customers.

      Now Wilson is on his way out as chair of lululemon. The company announced on Monday (December 9) that Wilson plans to resign from the post before lululemon's annual general meeting in June 2014. 

      Wilson will stay on the board as a director. Lead director Michael Casey has been selected to replace Wilson as chair.

      Lululemon also announced that Laurent Potdevin, former president of TOMS Shoes, will succeed Christine Day as CEO in January 2014. The company's CEO since 2008, Day had revealed her departure plans earlier this year.

      "lululemon's success has always been and will continue to be my highest priority. I am delighted that Laurent will be joining lululemon and believe his talents and experience ideally complement our existing management team. I know he will have a strong impact on the business as he has the vision and leadership capabilities necessary to create and direct its future," Wilson said in a news release. "As Laurent joins as CEO, I believe that now is the right time for me to begin to transition out of my role as Chairman of the Board."

      Comments

      20 Comments

      IMO

      Dec 10, 2013 at 10:30am

      There is a a large (no pun intended) percent of woman that should not be prancing around in lulu pants out side of the gym. I think Chip was being honest on a topic people refuse to be honest about.

      Bruce

      Dec 10, 2013 at 10:36am

      Watching that without sound was extremely creepy. Is this a cult or a company?

      Mx

      Dec 10, 2013 at 11:45am

      I have voluptuous friends. Do they need to be displaying their bits in tight yoga gear? No.
      @IMO I agree with you.

      shpants

      Dec 10, 2013 at 12:02pm

      I wish ugly,superficial attitudes were as easy to spot as cellulite in lululemmings.

      sadly, this is not the case IMO.

      anyhoo, i think no one should wear lulus in or outside of the gym. Lulu has become a symbol of social status like other god awful brands... coach... uggs. srsly, wtf vancouver? I will never wear lulu on the premise that an over priced article of clothing validates my athleticism or me as a person. So absurd.

      an admittedly shallow perspective

      Dec 10, 2013 at 12:25pm

      imagine a world where all women wear yoga pants and sports bras. then we could see exactly what we're getting into, without the trouble and expense of dinner, drinks, etc. beforehand.

      just a quick glance and it's either yeah (and ba-da-bing!!) or nay (unless you're a chubby-chaser).

      yoga pants rock and the sheerer, the dearer. thanks lulu!!!

      shop elsewhere

      Dec 10, 2013 at 12:51pm

      For those ladies looking for the old quality in lulu's wunder under crops, try these from American Eagle:
      http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=0596_7627_001&catId=c...

      Same fit, thickness and quality as the old lulu crops, and usually on sale for $20. I wear them indoor rock climbing, usually scratch them against the wall a million times, and they still haven't pilled or showed signs of wear.

      out at night

      Dec 10, 2013 at 1:01pm

      Chip can use more downtime to catch up on his re-reading of the works of Ayn Rand, that hack writer who has inspired quasi-smart people the world over to tap into the epicentre of adolescent, fatally flawed and painfully simplistic 'reasoning'. Apparently Chip's a huge fan, so maybe now he has time to build a monument to Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. I can even suggest a name for such an edifice: Pile of Shit.

      Jen

      Dec 10, 2013 at 1:52pm

      IMO - Who decides who should or should not be wearing lulu pants outside the gym? You? Are you special? I missed the memo on that one. I get it, there is a lot of fat prejudice out there. I think its embarrassing for anyone that decides to wear tights as pants...not just women you find visually unappealing. It is a double standard that its ok for certain people to wear these pants so you can eye-fuck them.

      RUK

      Dec 10, 2013 at 2:14pm

      Inasmuch as I am all for Canadian businesses making money - the hell with American Eagle or Nike or RBK etc - I am hopeful that Chip Wilson's move is a positive one for Lululemon.

      His comments were, indeed, very stupid.

      On the bright side, moving out of operational chairpersonship may give him the time and focus to start up another business.

      More power to Canadian companies.

      As for the quality of the stuff, I have some workout gear and it has been fantastic, albeit way more expensive than the Firstar stuff that is also good. It's not a matter of image to me - dudes get no status bump from the Lulu logo.

      Bruce

      Dec 10, 2013 at 2:30pm

      @OutAtNight

      Don't be so critical, he balances out his Ayn Rand with devotion to "Landmark Forum". It is said to be an informal requirement for promotion in lulu.