Full Name: Chip Wilson
Date of Birth: 1955
Place of Birth: Dennis J. Wilson
Citizenship: Canadian
Education: University of Calgary
Occupation: Businessman
Known for: Founder of Lululemon Athletica
Chip Wilson Biography:
- Chip Wilson is a Canadian billionaire, businessman and philanthropist, who has founded several retail apparel companies, most notably yoga-inspired athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica Inc (TSX: LLL, NASDAQ: LULU).
- Wilson was born in San Diego,[citation needed] California, 1955. Both of his parents were athletes at college, and his father in later life was a physical education teacher.
- In 1980, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Calgary.
- In 1979, Wilson founded his first retail apparel company, Westbeach Snowboard Ltd, which sold apparel targeted at the surf, skate, and snowboard markets. He sold Westbeach in 1997 and founded Lululemon Athletica Inc in 1998. As of 2016, his personal and business interests are maintained through Hold It All Inc.
Wilson served as CEO of Lululemon until 2005, when he sold a 48% stake to private equity firms Advent International[9] and Highland Capital Partners. - In 2007, an IPO was offered by Lululemon Athletica Inc. on Canadian and US exchanges.
- In January 2012, Wilson retired from his executive post as chief innovation and branding officer, but remained chairman of the board of directors.In December 2013, he stepped down from his role as non-executive chairman.
- Wilson is widely considered to be the creator of the athleisure trend. In 2016, he organized his personal and business interests into the holding company Hold It All Inc.
( Last Updated : 08 December 2021)