Lululemon Athletica inc. (LULU) – Wanted: CEO Who Looks Like a Winner in Stretchy Pants

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In its earlier days — like last year — Athleta made an even bolder grab at Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) clients, opening stores near existing Lululemon locations. The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) let Lululemon do all the hard work of finding good spots, then just jumped in to piggyback on the success. Now that The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) has pulled its finances back in order, it’s going to be focusing more on Athleta. At its 2013 investor meeting, Gap’s management said that Athleta was a brand that The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) could take global, if its plans work out. That would mean Athleta would be on the scale of Old Navy or Banana Republic. A slowdown from Lululemon could hasten that expansion.

Who gets the chair
Speculation on the CEO replacement has swung from Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UA) executives, to founder Chip Wilson. Spoiler alert — it’s not going to be Wilson. Whoever steps into the role needs to have three main traits. First, the person needs to be able to grow a domestic business in international markets. Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) has to press outside of the U.S. before its competitors have a chance to.

Second, the new CEO needs to be able to build a coalition of managers and executives. With so many vacancies at the top, anyone stepping in is going to have to build his or her own little army, and get results from that army immediately.

Third, it would be great if the CEO was super-personable. For all his failings, Wilson was a bold personality, and that drew in the vendors and instructors that Lululemon relies on. Day was a bit too formal to make the kinds of friends in the business that Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) really needs. A smiling face would go a long way.

I’m hoping that the company can make an announcement in the next few months, or it’s just going to keep losing momentum. Until it announces a successor, Lululemon is looking like a rudderless ship surrounded by pirates.

The article Wanted: CEO Who Looks Like a Winner in Stretchy Pants originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Andrew Marder has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU), Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), and Under Armour. The Motley Fool owns shares of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), and Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UA).

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