Just over a year after he departed the corporate world, he’s back – ex-Nike chief sustainability officer (CSO) Noel Kinder has taken the senior vice president (SVP) of sustainability role at Canadian apparel brand Lululemon.
After 25 years at Nike, Kinder left in February 2024 continuing some board advisory positions with organisations such as sustainability platform provider Greenplaces. But judging by his LinkedIn update last week, the lure of a new major corporate sustainability role was too good to turn down.
“As you know, I have had the great pleasure over the past 14 months of living life outside the corporate ecosystem,” he wrote on the networking platform.
“I’ve had the freedom to explore my areas of interest, consult, advise, travel the speaking circuit, and offer my musings here on LinkedIn. After a 25-year career at one company, I have been really fortunate to have some time to reflect and evaluate what is important and fulfilling to me.”
He added: “One of the conclusions I have reached is that I get a tremendous amount of energy from leading transformation, driving operational success and frankly, being part of something bigger than myself.
“To that end, I have accepted the opportunity to become the SVP of sustainability at Lululemon.”
He said he has observed Lululemon “as a competitor for many years and have always had a tremendous amount of respect for the brand they have built through outstanding product, community connection and a commitment to leading positive change”.
“While I have enjoyed the freedom the past year or so has afforded me, I am excited to help grow such an innovative and purposeful brand,” he continued.
Noel Kinder spent the last seven years of his tenure at Nike as vice president of sustainable manufacturing & sourcing and then latterly as CSO. Prior to that he was general manager for Nike in Vietnam.
Lululemon announced last week that Esther Speck was stepping down after ten years of leading sustainability initiatives at the retailer. The business also fended off accusations of greenwashing this year following a 2024 class action lawsuit revolving around its ‘Be Planet’ marketing campaign.
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[image credit: Green Retail World]
