Allbirds adds former Athleta CEO to board of directors

By

Robin Driver

Published
Feb 10, 2020

As it aims to expand while staying true to its principles, San Francisco-based B Corp-certified footwear company Allbirds announced on Monday that it has appointed Old Navy president and chief creative officer Nancy Green to its board of directors.

 
Over the more than 25 years that Green has spent at Gap, Inc., her roles have included EVP and head of new business development, and EVP and advisor to the CEO of Gap China, as well as president and CEO of the group’s Athleta brand, the last position she held before taking on her current role in August 2019.
 
During her six-year tenure at the head of Athleta, the executive helped the brand achieve B Corp certification by introducing a series of ambitious sustainability goals.

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Thanks to these initiatives, Athleta now makes 60% of its apparel using apparel and sustainable materials and is aiming to increase this figure to 80% by the end of the year. The brand’s efforts also support Gap, Inc.’s objective of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% across all of its businesses.
 
Under Green’s leadership, Athleta’s sales rose from $250 million to almost $1 billion, becoming one of the largest B Corp-certified companies in the retail sector.
 
It is hoped that her experience at the brand will help Allbirds scale its operations while continuing to fulfill its commitments to sustainability and innovation in natural materials.
 
“Nancy shares our belief that business can be a force for positive change and transform how the fashion industry views the products they're putting into the world,” said Joey Zwillinger, co-founder and co-CEO of Allbirds, in a release. "We are proud to welcome her to the team, and look forward to ushering in a new era of sustainable business together.”
 
Green’s previous experience also includes stints as EVP and GMM for Pottery Barn at Williams-Sonoma, and CEO of Shabby Chic, Rachel Ashwell Designs.
 
The executive, who holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, serves on the Gap Foundation Board of Trustees and the Gap Sustainability Board.
 
Her appointment to Allbirds’ board is effective February 10, 2020.