Heidi O'Neill

Heidi O'Neill is a consumer brand executive with a career spanning nearly three decades in the global sportswear industry. O'Neill has extensive experience in performance apparel, footwear, and sport, with expertise in product innovation, digital transformation, and brand strategy. Before joining Nike, O'Neill served as marketing director for the Dockers brand at Levi Strauss & Co. and as vice president and management supervisor at Foote, Cone & Belding in San Francisco.

O'Neill joined Nike and held several leadership roles, including president of Nike Direct, where she oversaw the company's global retail and digital-commerce business. She played a key role in building Nike's women's business into a multi-billion-dollar segment, significantly increasing revenue. O'Neill also served as president, leading the value chain across sport categories, innovation, product, merchandising, and brand and sports marketing. Her efforts strengthened Nike's position in categories such as Global Football and Running, rebuilt the product pipeline, and introduced new operational methods that accelerated time to market.

During her tenure, O'Neill contributed to Nike's growth from a $9 billion business to a $45 billion global leader. She championed women's sport, including involvement in the "Breaking4" project with Faith Kipyegon and the Advanced Innovation Collective and Running teams, which aimed to advance women's athletics. O'Neill describes her leadership style as coach-like, focusing on creating conditions for team success rather than centralizing decision-making.

O'Neill is a recipient of the Women Who Change the Game Award from Advertising Women of New York. She serves as an advisory board member of the Children's Cancer Association and as a founding board member of the Nike School Innovation Fund. O'Neill is also an independent director at Spotify and Hyatt, contributing cross-industry governance experience.

O'Neill was named CEO of Lululemon, following her extensive experience at Nike, particularly in women's active apparel and direct-to-consumer retail. Her career demonstrates expertise in building cultural relevance and maintaining operational discipline within the activewear and sportswear sectors.