The former Starwood exec will play a critical role in shaping the holistic member journey
NEW YORK, (February 8, 2020) — WW International, Inc. (NASDAQ: WW), a human-centric technology company powered by the world's leading commercial weight management program, announced today that Stephen Gates will join the company as Senior Vice President, Omni-Channel Product Design. Gates will be responsible for the end-to-end member experience across digital, virtual and physical touch points, leading the design of the WW Wellness Experience. He will sit on the digital leadership team and report directly to Lucinda Newcomb, Chief Product Officer, who joined WW in March 2020.
In this role, Gates will be a critical partner across multiple disciplines including Product Management, Technology, Science, Studio and Brand, to help unify the member needs at the intersection of the physical, digital and virtual experience. He will help generate consistency throughout the member journey and engagement life-cycle to ensure members are successful in their pursuit of behavioral change to achieve weight loss and wellness.
“At WW, the member is at the center of everything we do”, said Lucinda Newcomb, WW Chief Product Officer. “In the last year, with the introduction of our new digital offerings, from Virtual Workshops to our app enhancements to Digital 360, there’s an incredible opportunity to continue to support our members wherever they are along their wellness journey. Stephen’s collaborative approach and philosophy of design thinking and bringing partners together will be an invaluable asset to the WW family.”
Gates brings over 20 years as a global design leader supporting organizations that integrate research and data with human-centered methods to drive business impact. He joins from InVision where he was Head Design Evangelist and worked with design, product and engineering teams at Amazon, Google, Verizon, Apple, Nike, Bank of America and many more. Prior to InVision, Gates served in key design leadership roles at Citi, Starwood Hotels and McCann Erickson.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the amazing team at WW,” said Stephen Gates. “I can’t wait to apply my knowledge and background in strategy and design to help build innovative, cohesive and holistic products and experiences that make a positive impact on the lives of the WW members.”
Gates’ work has received great renown winning over 150 international awards including Cannes Cyber Lions, Webby Awards, Web Awards and others and being featured in 10 Apple keynotes. He also hosts an award-winning podcast, The Crazy One, which features in-depth explorations of issues that matter to creatives, including leadership, creativity, and career development and innovation.
In the past 12 months, WW has catapulted its digital and product innovation, deepening the ways in which it integrates into members lives including: the introduction of Virtual Workshops; the launch of myWW+, WW’s most personalized program ever; and Digital 360 (D360), a new app-based membership plan designed to give members next-level support, motivation and accountability through live and on-demand content.
About WW International, Inc.
WW (formerly Weight Watchers) is a human-centric technology company powered by the world's leading commercial weight management program. As a global wellness company, we inspire millions of people to adopt healthy habits for real life. Through our comprehensive digital app, expert Coaches and engaging experiences, members follow our proven, sustainable, science-based program focused on food, activity, mindset and sleep. Leveraging nearly six decades of expertise in nutritional and behavioral change science, providing real human connection and building inspired communities, our purpose is to democratize and deliver holistic wellness for all. To learn more about the WW approach to healthy living, please visit ww.com. For more information about our global business, visit our corporate website at corporate.ww.com.