Calvin McDonald
Former chief executive of Lululemon (until January 2026)
Calvin McDonald was chief executive of Lululemon for seven years, stepping down on 31 January 2026. During his tenure the athletic apparel company more than tripled its annual revenue, expanded into more than 30 markets and made China its second largest market.
| Role | Former chief executive of Lululemon |
|---|---|
| Tenure | Seven years, until 31 January 2026 |
| Adviser | Senior adviser until 31 March 2026 |
| Interim successors | Meghan Frank and André Maestrini (co chief executives) |
| Revenue | More than tripled during his tenure |
Who is Calvin McDonald?
Calvin McDonald is a retail executive best known as the chief executive of Lululemon, the athletic apparel company, for seven years until 31 January 2026. His tenure covered a period of rapid international expansion for the brand and growing competition in the athleisure market.
Leading Lululemon
According to the company's succession announcement in December 2025, Lululemon more than tripled its annual revenue under McDonald's leadership and expected around 11 billion US dollars in revenue for the fiscal year. The company expanded to more than 30 geographies, made China its second largest market and entered new categories, including tennis and golf.
- Annual revenue more than tripled during his tenure
- Presence expanded to more than 30 geographies
- China became the second largest market
- New categories such as tennis and golf
Succession
On 11 December 2025 Lululemon announced that McDonald would step down as chief executive and as a member of the board on 31 January 2026, remaining as a senior adviser until 31 March 2026. The board named chief financial officer Meghan Frank and chief commercial officer André Maestrini as interim co chief executives while it searched for a permanent successor, and board chair Marti Morfitt became executive chair. Morfitt said the company had "a strong foundation in place" as it sought a leader with experience of growth and transformation.
McDonald said: "Serving as CEO of Lululemon has been the highlight of my career." In the company's statement he added: "I am committed to fully supporting the transition and helping guide our leadership team in my advisory role."
Influence on the fashion business
Under McDonald, Lululemon became one of the clearest examples of a vertically integrated, direct to consumer apparel brand scaling globally. Its growth helped establish premium athletic apparel as a major category in its own right and put pressure on both traditional sportswear groups and fashion retailers to respond to consumer demand for versatile, performance oriented clothing.
Why it matters
McDonald's seven years at Lululemon offer a case study in international expansion, particularly in China, and in extending a focused brand into new sports and categories. His departure, amid increased competition in athletic apparel, also illustrates the pressures facing growth brands once they reach scale.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calvin McDonald still CEO of Lululemon?
No. Calvin McDonald stepped down as chief executive of Lululemon on 31 January 2026 after seven years and remained a senior adviser until 31 March 2026.
What did Calvin McDonald achieve at Lululemon?
According to the company, Lululemon more than tripled its annual revenue under his leadership and expanded to more than 30 geographies. China became its second largest market and the brand entered categories such as tennis and golf.