Lululemon has named Ranju Das as its first chief AI and technology officer, effective 2nd September. In the newly created role, Das will oversee the Canadian activewear company’s technology organization and lead the next phase of its technology and AI strategy. He will report directly to chief executive officer Calvin McDonald and join the senior leadership team.
Das said he was joining Lululemon at a pivotal moment in its technology transformation journey, adding that the opportunity to apply technology and AI across the retail value chain to enhance guest service was significant. He noted that he looked forward to advancing the company’s data, technology, and AI strategies to drive growth, operational excellence, product leadership, and stronger guest experiences.
With over 20 years of leadership experience, Das most recently served as CEO and founder of Swan AI Studios. Prior to that, he was CEO of OptumLabs, the R&D arm of UnitedHealth Group, and spent nearly eight years at Amazon, culminating in his role as general manager for Amazon AI Services. His career also includes senior engineering roles at Barnes & Noble and the co-founding of several startups.
McDonald said the company saw a major opportunity to leverage AI and technology to accelerate product innovation, improve speed to market, and deliver greater personalization for customers. He added that Das’s proven track record in large-scale AI and technology transformations made him the right leader to advance this work at Lululemon.
Alongside the appointment, Lululemon announced that chief information officer Julie Averill will leave the company in September to pursue other opportunities. Earlier in the year, the brand confirmed plans to cut around 150 corporate roles as part of a restructuring effort aimed at long-term growth and agility.
