Scoop: Beyond Yoga Bids Farewell to CEO Michelle Wahler, Welcomes Industry Titan Nancy Green
Beyond Yoga appoints former Old Navy and Athleta executive Nancy Green as its new CEO.
Hey there! Looking for the latest intel on the activewear world? Here's what's shaking at Beyond Yoga.
Goodbye, Michelle Wahler, Hello Nancy Green: The successful tenure of co-founder Michelle Wahler as Beyond Yoga's CEO comes to an end, paving the way for the arrival of industry powerhouse Nancy Green on February 1. This ain't no Singapore Sling, folks; we're talking about a major shakeup in the activewear scene!
A Rising Star Takes Command: Nancy Green, a veteran of the athletic apparel scene, boasts a storied career with stints at Athleta and Old Navy. Hailing from Gap Inc., Green took Athleta's revenues from a cool $250 million to almost $1 billion in six years. Under her leadership, Athleta's store count exploded from a mere 39 to a whopping 175.
Compared to Athleta's impressive growth, Beyond Yoga's numbers might look a bit modest. With only six stores and nearly $100 million in net revenue under its belt in fiscal 2022 (courtesy of its parent company, Levi Strauss & Co.), Beyond Yoga has some catch-up to do. But fear not; the brand's got growth on the brain, with plans to expand through DTC channels, brick-and-mortar retail, wholesale, international markets, and category growth.
Levi's Steps Up: Michelle Gass, who's set to ascend the throne as CEO of Levi Strauss next week, had this to say about the shakeup: "This is an exciting time for Beyond Yoga, which has thrived under the LS&Co. umbrella. As we pursue the next stage of growth, we believe Nancy has the experience to fully unlock the potential of Beyond Yoga by leveraging her impressive retail expertise and LS&Co.'s extensive global resources and capabilities."
Green's glowing rep: Known for her work at both Athleta and Old Navy, Green leaves no stone unturned. At Old Navy, she helped boost revenues from $8 billion to $9 billion, with a key focus on growing activewear sales. Green waved goodbye to Old Navy in 2022, but she didn't stay away from the retail realm for long, taking on board roles at Marine Layer and Allbirds.
Looking Ahead: Green expressed her excitement about stepping into the Beyond Yoga helm: "I'm honored to be leading Beyond Yoga, a brand I've known and loved for years, and I see so much upside potential for this authentic and high-quality brand to reach and engage many more consumers. I look forward to partnering with the Beyond Yoga and LS&Co. teams to continue to build the brand and accelerate its growth."
So, there you have it! Get ready to witness Beyond Yoga take a giant leap forward as the old guard makes room for the fresh and talented Nancy Green. This ain't the Wild West, but the athletic wear game just got a whole lot more interesting!
- Beyond Yoga, the activewear brand, is undergoing a significant change as co-founder Michelle Wahler steps down as CEO and industry titan Nancy Green takes the helm, effective February 1.
- With a proven track record at companies like Athleta and Old Navy, Nancy Green is well-equipped to lead Beyond Yoga and drive its growth, following impressive achievements in growing revenues and store counts at her previous roles.
- Although Beyond Yoga's numbers might appear modest compared to industry leaders, the brand is aiming to expand through various channels, including DTC, retail, wholesale, international markets, and category growth, aimed at catching up with the competition.
- Michelle Gass, who will soon become CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., the parent company of Beyond Yoga, believes that Nancy Green has the experience and expertise to maximize the potential of Beyond Yoga by leveraging the extensive global resources and capabilities of the LS&Co.
- Prior to joining Beyond Yoga, Green's reputation shone as she boosted Old Navy's revenues from $8 billion to $9 billion, with a focus on expanding activewear sales.
- In 2022, Green left Old Navy but didn't stay away from the retail realm for long, taking on board roles at Marine Layer and Allbirds.
- As Green steps into the Beyond Yoga leadership role, she sees tremendous upside potential for the brand to reach and engage more consumers and is excited to partner with the Beyond Yoga and LS&Co. teams to continue its growth trajectory in the fashion-and-beauty, business, lifestyle, and finance sectors.
