Allbirds Rebrands As Smartbird, Names Ex-AWS CEO
Allbirds rebrands as Smartbird and named Nadia Carlsten CEO while expanding convertibles from $50M to $100M, refocusing markets on the AI pivot.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Effective June 17, 2026, Allbirds changed its name to Smartbird and repositioned as an AI infrastructure provider.
- Nadia Carlsten was named president and chief executive officer and joined the board.
- Senior secured convertible facility was increased from $50 million to $100 million to bolster the pivot.
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Smartbird, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIRD), formerly Allbirds, said in a June 17, 2026 press release that it changed its corporate name to Smartbird, named Nadia Carlsten president and chief executive officer, and expanded its convertible financing to support a pivot to AI infrastructure.
Rebrand and Leadership Changes
The company said its Class A common stock will continue trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol BIRD, with its CUSIP number unchanged. It described itself as an AI infrastructure provider.
Smartbird appointed Nadia Carlsten, a former Amazon Web Services executive with experience in AI and quantum computing, as president, CEO, and director. Carlsten has also held roles at DCAI and SandboxAQ and advised the World Economic Forum on computing and artificial intelligence. She replaces Joe Vernachio, who resigned from the company and the board.
Lily Yan Hughes, an independent director since October 2025, was named board chair. Annie Mitchell will remain chief financial officer, a role she has held for three years. The company framed these governance changes as part of its transition to the new strategy.
Financing and Asset Sale
Smartbird completed its previously announced sale of the Allbirds brand and footwear assets. The company increased its senior secured convertible note facility from $50 million to $100 million to strengthen its balance sheet for the AI infrastructure pivot.
A Form 8-K filed on or about June 17, 2026, reflects the financing increase and the leadership changes. The amendment to the convertible note program was signed and became effective on June 15, 2026.
The June 17 press release emphasized the strategic shift from footwear to AI infrastructure, highlighting the name change, leadership appointments, and balance-sheet actions as key elements of the repositioning. Investors can consult the 8-K and related disclosures for the formal record of the transactions and capital amendments.
"Smartbird, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIRD), an AI infrastructure provider, today announced the appointment of Nadia Carlsten as president and chief executive officer," the company said in the release.
