The appointment of a Unilever and Coty executive – not a sports industry insider – brings lululemon’s total of new independent directors to six in five years, as the brand navigates falling US sales and a leadership transition.
Lululemon has named Esi Eggleston Bracey, former Chief Growth & Marketing Officer at Unilever PLC, to its board of directors (SEC filings, 28 April 2026). Effective immediately, the appointment expands the board from 10 to 11 members.
Bracey is the sixth new independent director added in five years, reflecting an accelerated pace of governance renewal as the Canadian athletic apparel company navigates an extended leadership transition and weakening US sales growth.
From Unilever and Coty to the lululemon boardroom
Bracey’s 30-plus-year career is rooted in consumer goods and beauty rather than sports or athletic apparel. At Unilever, where she held her most recent senior role from 2024 to 2025, she led global marketing transformation across a portfolio of more than 400 brands. Before that, she served as President of Unilever USA and Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Personal Care, North America (2022–2023), as well as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, North America Beauty and Personal Care (2018–2022).
Earlier, she was President of Consumer Beauty at Coty Inc. (2015–2017) and held multiple leadership roles at Procter & Gamble. She currently serves on the board of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering sciences from Dartmouth College.
Governance shift comes ahead of a new CEO
The appointment comes at a moment of significant transition for lululemon. The company is currently led on an interim basis by co-Chief Executive Officers Meghan Frank – who also serves as Chief Financial Officer – and André Maestrini, President and Chief Commercial Officer. Incoming permanent CEO Heidi O’Neill, who spent 27 years at Nike, is scheduled to take up the role on 8 September 2026.
Bracey will stand for election at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. She replaces Shane Grant, a current board member serving on the Audit Committee, who has confirmed they will not seek re-election at the end of the term. A further departure – David Mussafer – was previously disclosed on 17 March 2026. Following the Annual Meeting, the board will contract from 11 to 9 members.
