Allbirds rebrands as Smartbird and names Nadia Carlsten CEO

Allbirds rebrands – Allbirds is cutting ties with its footwear identity. On Wednesday it changed its name to Smartbird, installed Nadia Carlsten as CEO, and framed the company as an “AI infrastructure provider”—moves that sent its stock up roughly 45% midday and 37% by market clo

For a company that once built its reputation on shoes. Wednesday came with a jolt: Allbirds officially changed its name to Smartbird and installed Nadia Carlsten as its new CEO. By midday. the market reacted as if the pivot had real weight—BIRD stock was up roughly 45%—and the momentum held into the close. with shares up 37% at market close Wednesday.

The timing of the leadership change also matters. Carlsten will join the company’s board and replace Joe Vernachio, who had taken the helm in March 2024.

Carlsten’s resume signals why investors may be willing to listen. She was previously leading Amazon Web Services’ quantum computing center, and she also served as CEO at AI company DCAI. In her first major statement as the company’s new chief executive. she positioned Smartbird as an entrant into a booming but infrastructure-heavy phase of the AI race.

Smartbird says it is “entering the market at a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI infrastructure. ” adding that there is “a clear opportunity to meet the growing need for enterprise-grade AI infrastructure that delivers control and performance without the capital and operational burden of hardware ownership.” She also argued Smartbird’s plan is differentiated: “With a differentiated strategy. significant capital. and the opportunity to build an exceptional team. we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on one of the most significant infrastructure opportunities of the next decade.”.

This is not just a branding exercise. The company is also identifying itself as “an AI infrastructure provider,” a fundamental break from its previous iteration as a footwear maker.

The company’s history underscores how sharp the turn has been. Smartbird had previously sold off its footwear-related assets for almost $40 million. At one time, the company was valued at $4 billion; today, its market cap is around $50 million. That contrast hangs over the latest announcements and makes the market reaction feel especially loaded—investors are rewarding the direction even as the company’s broader comeback still depends on execution.

There’s a sequence to the moment: a footwear-to-AI pivot paired with leadership aligned to advanced computing. followed by a rapid shift in investor sentiment. In that light. the stock surge reads less like a routine update and more like the market choosing to bet on what Smartbird decides to build next.

Allbirds Smartbird BIRD stock Nadia Carlsten Joe Vernachio AI infrastructure provider market reaction Amazon Web Services quantum computing center DCAI pivot from footwear