Nike
US sportswear giant Nike‘s Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and Corporate Controller, Johanna Nielsen, will step down from her roles, effective September 4.
At that time, newly appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David Denton will also serve as interim Corporate Controller and assume the role of the company’s principal accounting officer until the Board identifies a permanent successor for the Corporate Controller position.
Johanna Nielsen is leaving to pursue a new career opportunity. She joined Nike in March 2017 as Senior Director of Finance, Strategy and Operations, and has held her current roles since October 2022.
lululemon
Canadian athletic apparel company lululemon Athletica‘s Chief AI and Technology Officer, Ranju Das, has left the company.
Ranju Das joined lululemon in September 2025 in his current role, where he led the company’s technology organisation and was responsible for developing and executing the next phase of lululemon’s technology and AI strategy. He previously founded Swan AI Studios, served as CEO of OptumLabs, the research and development arm of UnitedHealth Group, and was General Manager of Amazon AI Services.
In addition, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that lululemon’s Chief Strategy Officer, Rachel Acheson, has recently left the company.
Rachel Acheson joined lululemon in June 2012 as Vice President of Brand and Community and had been with the company for more than 14 years. She was appointed Chief Strategy Officer in April 2025.
Before joining lululemon, Rachel Acheson held roles at Breakthrough Collaborative, Gap Inc. and other organisations.
Puma
German sportswear brand Puma has appointed Carlo Alberto Cingolani as Global Director Commercial Go-to-Market.
In his new role, Carlo Alberto Cingolani will become part of Puma’s global management structure, working directly across commercial operations and go-to-market strategy.
Carlo Alberto Cingolani has extensive experience in merchandising, sports categories and e-commerce. He previously spent 11 and a half years at European e-commerce giant Zalando, holding a number of roles within its merchandising division. Earlier in his career, he also worked at footwear group Bata Group.
Rains
Danish outerwear and lifestyle brand Rains has appointed Tom Bettinson as Chief Executive Officer.
In his new role, Tom Bettinson will succeed co-founder Daniel Brix Hesselager, who has served as Chief Executive Officer since the beginning of 2025. During his tenure, Hesselager led a comprehensive transformation spanning Rains’ product categories, logistics, organisational structure, store concept, consumer experience and go-to-market strategy. He will now move into a business development role.
Tom Bettinson first joined Rains in 2017, establishing the brand’s UK team and showroom. He later left the company to join British design and home furnishings retailer The Conran Shop as Commercial Director. He returned to Rains in October 2025 as Chief Sales Officer, overseeing the brand’s business across all sales channels, leading the restructuring of its sales organisation and advancing growth plans across mature markets and the Asia-Pacific region.
Kontoor Brands
Global lifestyle apparel group Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE: KTB), the parent company of US denim brand Wrangler and Norwegian outdoor brand Helly Hansen, has appointed Joseph Alkire as President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.
In his expanded role, Joseph Alkire will continue to have overall responsibility for the Helly Hansen® brand, while adding oversight of the Wrangler® brand. He will also continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer and oversee the company’s global operations.
Since joining Kontoor Brands in 2023, Joseph Alkire has been a core member of the group’s executive leadership team and has played a key role in shaping the company’s strategic and financial direction. Joseph Alkire will continue to report directly to Kontoor’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Scott Baxter.
JD Sports Fashion
British sportswear retail group JD Sports Fashion (“JD Sports”) has appointed Peter Agnefjäll as Chair of the Board, effective September 1, 2026.
In his new role, Peter Agnefjäll will succeed Darren Shapland, who has served as interim Chair since the company’s Annual General Meeting on July 21. Shapland will remain on the Board as an Independent Director.
Peter Agnefjäll is one of the global consumer and retail industry’s leading figures, with extensive experience as both a board chair and non-executive director. He spent nearly two decades with IKEA Group, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2013 to 2017, during which he led the group through significant growth in scale, market expansion, and digital transformation.
Peter Agnefjäll subsequently served as Chair of Dutch retail group Ahold Delhaize from 2021 to 2025, having previously served as Vice Chair and Non-Executive Director. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of advertising and public relations group WPP and was a Board Director of Norwegian industrial investment company Orkla from 2018 to 2026. His previous non-executive directorships also include footwear retailer Deichmann and Wizz Air.
Mountain Warehouse
British outdoor retailer Mountain Warehouse has appointed Marcus Ward as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1.
In his new role, Marcus Ward will assume full responsibility for Mountain Warehouse’s day-to-day operations, succeeding founder Mark Neale, who is stepping down after 29 years at the helm. Neale will become Executive Chairman, focusing on international expansion and the development of the group’s brand portfolio, which includes US outdoor retailer Eastern Mountain Sports and surfwear brand Animal.
Marcus Ward joined Mountain Warehouse around 20 years ago as Finance Director. He subsequently held a number of senior management positions and was appointed Chief Operating and Financial Officer in 2018.
｜Source: Official press releases, SGB Media, TheIndustry.fashion, Bloomberg
｜Image Credit: Personal social media accounts
｜Editor: Luxeplace
