Californian activewear brand Vuori brings in Heather Archibald as new Chief Product Officer

Vuori, an activewear brand rooted in Coastal California culture, has appointed Heather Archibald as its new Chief Product Officer, effective 20th April.

In the newly created role, she will lead end-to-end product organisation and oversee the lifecycle of the product portfolio from design and development to merchandising, raw material planning, production and sourcing strategy. The position aims to advance Vuori’s global product strategy and innovation roadmap, shaping the line and assortment architecture and investment strategy, while elevating the brand and product experience.

“This is an exciting moment for us as we continue to build on our strong momentum and invest in the capabilities that will carry us forward,” says Vuori Founder and CEO Joe Kudla. “With Heather joining the brand, we’re reinforcing our commitment to a product first approach, deepening innovation, sharpening storytelling and assortments, and bringing even greater rigour to how we scale while maintaining a deep connection with our consumers.”

Archibald previously served in product leadership roles across global brands, including most recently as Rothy’s Chief Product & Merchandising Officer. She also brings experience from former roles, including Chief Product Officer at Title Nine, and product and merchandising leadership roles at both Restoration Hardware and Gap Inc.

“Vuori has built something truly distinctive at the intersection of covetable, high quality product, its strong ‘Built to Move In. Styled for Life’ north star, and a clear sustainable mission, each setting the stage for an unbelievable future,” says Archibald. “I’m honoured to join the brand on this growth journey. It's an exciting time for us to continue elevating the product experience through innovation and grounded in our deep understanding of the consumer.”

Founded in Encinitas, California in 2015, Vuori hit a 100-store milestone in late 2025 and serves consumers across close to 30 countries through a network of owned and partner channels. It says it will continue to drive growth with a focus on key markets in the US, Europe and Asia. By the end of 2026, Vuori anticipates an owned and partner retail expansion with close to 25 additional new locations, including a total of 15 international store locations.

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards

Physical stores will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

Check out our 2025 winners here.

Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”

“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”

He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”

Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.