Lululemon Names Carla Anderson as North America GM as Celeste Burgoyne Exits for Vail Resorts

Just days after appointing André Maestrini as president and chief commercial officer, Lululemon Athletica Inc. announced a major internal promotion: Carla Anderson is stepping into the role of senior vice president and general manager of North America, effective November 27, 2025. The move comes as Celeste Burgoyne, who spent 19 years shaping the brand’s U.S. empire, prepares to exit on December 31, 2025 — and join Vail Resorts, Inc. as executive vice president and chief revenue officer. It’s not every day a company loses a leader who helped turn a single Vancouver yoga studio into a $10 billion global powerhouse. But this isn’t just a handoff. It’s a strategic pivot — and the pressure is on Anderson to keep the momentum alive.

The Architect of Growth Exits

When Celeste Burgoyne joined Lululemon Athletica Inc. in 2006, the company had fewer than 10 stores in North America. By the time she steps down, she’s overseen the expansion to more than 750 locations worldwide, with North America alone generating over $7.5 billion in annual revenue. She didn’t just manage stores — she engineered the guest experience. Burgoyne built the digital ecosystem, redesigned loyalty programs, and even launched the company’s first membership initiative. Analysts at Needham & Company called her one of the "key architects" of Lululemon’s rise. Her departure isn’t just a loss of leadership — it’s the end of an era.

Her next chapter? Vail Resorts, Inc., the ski giant based in Broomfield, Colorado. Starting January 26, 2026, Burgoyne will lead marketing, digital guest journeys, and revenue strategy for a company that operates 37 resorts across North America. It’s a curious leap — from activewear to alpine tourism — but not entirely surprising. Both businesses thrive on community, brand loyalty, and premium experiences. Burgoyne’s track record suggests she’ll bring the same precision to ski lift lines as she did to yoga mat displays.

The Inside Promote: Carla Anderson’s Rise

Carla Anderson didn’t come from outside. She walked into a Lululemon store in Vancouver in 2005 as a 22-year-old associate. Now, she’s taking the reins of the company’s most important market. Anderson spent two years as U.S. general manager before being tapped for this expanded role. She’s known internally for her operational grit and obsession with store-level detail — the kind of leader who shows up at 6 a.m. to observe morning yoga classes and chats with customers about why they chose the Align pant over the Wunder Train. Unlike Burgoyne, who built the brand’s scale, Anderson’s job is to refine it.

She’ll report directly to André Maestrini, who became president and chief commercial officer on November 22, 2025. Maestrini now controls every global region — North America, Asia Pacific, China, EMEA — plus digital and retail strategy. His compensation package? A $950,000 base salary with performance bonuses. The message is clear: Lululemon is centralizing control. No more regional fiefdoms. Everything flows through Maestrini. And Anderson is his point person in North America, where sales have begun to slow.

Why This Matters: The Sales Slump

Lululemon isn’t just saying goodbye to Burgoyne — it’s trying to fix a crack in its foundation. North American revenue, which once grew at double-digit rates, has stalled. The company reported flat same-store sales in Q3 2025, its first such dip in over five years. Shoppers are holding back. Competitors like Athleta and Outdoor Voices are eating into its premium segment. And while the international market is growing, North America still accounts for more than 75% of total revenue. That’s a dangerous concentration.

Anderson’s challenge? Rekindle excitement without the magic touch Burgoyne had. She won’t have the luxury of building from scratch. She’s inheriting a mature, saturated market. Her playbook must be different: deeper personalization, smarter inventory, and maybe even a return to community-driven events — the kind that made Lululemon feel less like a store and more like a movement.

The Bigger Picture: Leadership in a Changing Market

This transition reflects a broader trend in retail: the shift from charismatic founders and long-tenured executives to disciplined operators. Burgoyne was the visionary. Maestrini and Anderson are the engineers. The company’s CEO, Calvin McDonald, praised Burgoyne’s "partnership and friendship," but he didn’t call her a visionary. He called her a builder of culture. That’s telling. Lululemon no longer needs someone to dream big — it needs someone to execute flawlessly.

Anderson’s promotion signals a new phase: operational excellence over explosive growth. Her team will now include Danny Ryder, chief digital officer since 2021, and regional leads from Asia and Europe — all reporting to Maestrini. It’s a leaner, more centralized structure. And it’s happening at a time when consumer confidence is shaky, inflation is still a concern, and the athleisure bubble is being questioned.

What’s Next?

The next 90 days will be critical. Burgoyne remains through December 31 to help with the transition — a rare gesture of grace in corporate America. Anderson, based in Vancouver, will take over day-to-day operations immediately. But her real test comes in Q1 2026, when the company reports its first full quarter under her leadership. Will she reverse the sales trend? Can she make customers feel the same emotional connection without Burgoyne’s signature presence?

One thing’s certain: the pressure is higher than ever. Lululemon’s stock price has dipped 12% since August 2025. Investors are watching. And if Anderson can’t deliver, the next leadership change won’t be an internal promotion — it’ll be a CEO search.