Lululemon’s AI chief departs after less than a year in latest high-profile exit from retailer

Lululemon Athletica Inc. chief AI and technology officer Ranju Das has left the company after less than a year, the retailer’s latest high-profile departure as Heidi O’Neill prepares to take over as chief executive next month.

Das, who started at the company last September, was a member of the senior leadership team and the first executive at Lululemon to hold his title. According to his LinkedIn profile, Das’ role involved developing “responsible AI strategies” to improve efficiency and drive shareholder value. A Lululemon spokesperson confirmed Das’ departure on Thursday and said the company is searching for its next technology leader.

Das didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. His exit “adds to concerns that the retailer’s turnaround is still struggling to find stability,” Bloomberg Intelligence analysts led by Poonam Goyal said. “The issue isn’t AI, but repeated leadership resets at a time when the company needs sharper execution.”

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Rachel Acheson, Lululemon’s chief strategy officer, also recently left the company.

A series of missteps — such as selling see-through tights — and mounting competition from upstart brands have threatened Lululemon’s once-dominant position atop the athleisure category. O’Neill, a former Nike Inc. executive, will be tasked with reviving sales when she joins as CEO on Sept. 8. The Vancouver-based company’s shares have lost more than 40 per cent of their value this year.

Lululemon’s former chief information officer, Julie Averill, published a guest essay in the New York Times earlier this month criticizing companies for being quick to use AI in job titles and news releases without explaining the strategy behind them. Das was given the AI title when Averill left, she said, even though deploying AI and other new technologies were part of her job.

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