Laurent Potdevin is the Chief Executive Officer of lululemon athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU). Mr. Potdevin brings more than 25 years in the retail industry to this role and a deep understanding of premium brands, athletic apparel, technical products, innovation and best-in-class customer experience.
Mr. Potdevin comes to lululemon having most recently served as President of TOMS Shoes, a giving company founded on the mission that it would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. While at TOMS, he built a world-class management team, led global expansion, and broadened the company’s strong cultural identity.
Prior to TOMS, Mr. Potdevin spent more than 15 years in various roles, including five years as President and CEO, at Burton Snowboards, the world's foremost snowboard company. The business grew significantly under his leadership, expanding across product categories and creating international scale by always focusing on providing the best consumer experience.
Early in his career, he gained experience in premium, luxury brands through his tenure at LVMH. What started as a role in the M&A division—where he identified the potential of the Berlutti footwear brand early on—evolved into a position as Director of North American Operations for the company’s premier Louis Vuitton brand where he was integral in optimizing the brand’s North American supply chain.
Mr. Potdevin has a Masters Degree in Engineering from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland and a MBA from École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, Paris, France.
As an avid snowboarder, you can find Mr. Potdevin carving it up on the mountain during the winter and on catching waves on his surfboard in the summer.
