Emily White
lululemon athleticaAbout Emily White
Emily White is an independent director of lululemon athletica inc., serving since November 2011; she is president of Anthos Capital and previously was COO at Snap, held leadership roles at Facebook/Instagram (2010–2013), and spent 2001–2010 at Google. She holds a B.A. in Art History from Vanderbilt University; age 46; tenure ~14 years; her core credentials center on technology, digital platforms, consumer engagement, and emerging technologies .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure/Dates | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive roles | 2001–2010 | Technology and platform operations | |
| Facebook/Instagram | Leadership roles | 2010–2013 | Digital product and growth |
| Snap, Inc. | Chief Operating Officer | Not disclosed | Operations leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthos Capital | President | Private | Investment leadership |
| Olaplex Holdings Inc. | Director | Public | Consumer beauty; note interlock with LULU Lead Director David Mussafer who also serves on Olaplex’s board |
| Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products, Inc. | Director | Private | Consumer beverage |
| Gretel.ai | Director | Private | AI/data technology |
| Prior: Graco, Inc.; National Center for Women in I.T.; X-Prize | Director | Mixed | Historical board service |
Board Governance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Board determined Emily White is independent under Nasdaq rules |
| Committee assignments | Chair, People, Culture & Compensation Committee (PCCC); Member, Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability & Governance (CRSG) |
| Meeting attendance | In 2024, all directors attended at least 75% of board/committee meetings; Board held six meetings; PCCC met six; CRSG met six |
| Executive sessions | Non-management directors meet in executive session with each regular board meeting |
| Say‑on‑Pay outcome | 2024 Say‑on‑Pay supported by ~93% of votes cast; Board continues annual frequency |
| Shareholder meeting results (2024) | Say‑on‑Pay votes: For 99,111,882; Against 7,266,222; Abstain 97,800; Broker non‑votes 6,255,058 |
| Related party transactions | No transactions requiring Item 404(a) disclosure; audit committee reviews RPTs per policy |
| Hedging/pledging | Insider trading policy generally prohibits short sales, derivatives/hedging, and pledging of company securities |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | $151,223 | Reflects base retainer plus committee chair/member retainers |
| Stock Awards ($) | $159,439 | Annual restricted stock grant; one‑year vesting |
| Total ($) | $310,662 | 2024 director compensation |
Director Retainer Structure (Fiscal 2025):
| Role | Cash Retainer ($) | Equity Grant ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Non‑Employee Director (base) | 100,000 | 160,000 |
| Board Chair (additional) | 160,000 | — |
| Lead Director (additional) | 50,000 | — |
| Audit Chair (additional) | 30,000 | — |
| PCCC Chair (additional) | 30,000 | — |
| CRSG Chair (additional) | 20,000 | — |
| Audit Member (additional) | 15,000 | — |
| PCCC Member (additional) | 12,500 | — |
| CRSG Member (additional) | 10,000 | — |
Performance Compensation
PCCC oversees executive pay design and performance metrics; directors’ equity grants are time‑based (no performance metrics) .
Executive Incentive Metrics overseen by PCCC:
| Program | Metric(s) | Weight/Structure | FY2024 Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Cash Bonus | Operating Income; Net Revenue | 50% each; threshold/target/max set Q1 | Payout 80.9% of target |
| PSUs (2012–2024 cycle settled in 2024) | 3‑yr Operating Income CAGR vs FY2021 adjusted baseline ($1,374.7M) | Threshold 5%; Target 10%; Max 15% | 22.2% CAGR; 200% payout |
| Ongoing PSU cycles | Operating Income baseline rolls forward (FY2023–2025: $1,789.1M; FY2024–2026: $2,230.9M; FY2025–2027: $2,505.7M) | 0–200% multiplier | In progress |
Compensation Consultant and Independence:
- WTW serves as independent consultant to PCCC; management’s separate use of WTW (<$120,000) was reviewed and PCCC concluded independence under SEC/Nasdaq factors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Emily White Role | Potential Interlock/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Olaplex Holdings Inc. | Director | LULU Lead Director David Mussafer also serves on Olaplex’s board, creating an external interlock |
| Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products, Inc. | Director | No LULU board overlap disclosed |
| Gretel.ai | Director | No LULU board overlap disclosed |
| Prior boards | Graco, Inc.; NCWIT; X‑Prize | Historical service |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Technology and digital platforms; senior leadership; HR & talent; ESG oversight reflected in board’s skills matrix and biography .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Direct/Indirect Shares | Right to Acquire (60 days) | Total Beneficial Ownership | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emily White | 18,600 [includes 11,101 via The Kelly‑White Living Trust] | — | 18,600 | <1% (*) |
Director Stock Ownership Guidelines:
- Directors must hold shares equal to 5x base annual cash retainer within five years of appointment/election .
Insider Trading/Alignment Policies:
- Hedging and pledging of company stock generally prohibited .
Governance Assessment
Strengths:
- Independent director; long tenure with deep technology operating experience; chairs PCCC overseeing robust pay‑for‑performance design tied to operating income and net revenue; 2024 Say‑on‑Pay support strong (~93%) .
- Clear RPT policy; no related party transactions requiring Item 404 disclosure; strong insider trading prohibitions (hedging/pledging) .
Watch items:
- External interlock: both Emily White and LULU Lead Director David Mussafer sit on Olaplex’s board—monitor for information flow or perceived alignment issues; ensure recusals if conflicts arise .
- PCCC composition includes Kathryn Henry (former LULU executive; last role ended 2014); committee independence affirmed, but historical ties warrant ongoing scrutiny in compensation decisions .
- CEO pay ratio of 709:1 may draw investor attention despite strong Say‑on‑Pay support .
RED FLAGS:
- None disclosed regarding related party transactions, hedging/pledging, loans, or tax gross‑ups for directors; no RPTs under Item 404(a) reported .
- Equity award repricing prohibited; no director‑level performance equity features that could be manipulated .
Quotes/Signals:
- “Our policy also generally prohibits all forms of speculative trading... hedging, and pledging our securities as collateral.”
- “In 2024, all directors attended at least 75% of the total meetings...”
- “2024 annual bonus payout... 80.9% of target; 2022 PSU payout 200% based on 22.2% operating income CAGR.”