Brands
Coca-Cola launches a limited edition bluetooth-enabled gift bottle
Mumbai: Coca-Cola India has rolled out a technological product innovation-a “locked” Coke, which is a limited edition bottle of the beverage for the festive season. The “locked” bottle is fitted with a special bluetooth-enabled cap that is programmed to open only in the presence of the sender’s mobile phone.
The concept is in line with Coke’s recent “#MilkeHiManegiDiwali” campaign, which encourages consumers to meet and celebrate this Diwali in-person. The innovation will be brought to life by a 360-degree campaign, including a series of digital films and partnerships with popular influencers.
This is a first-of-its-kind product innovation by Coke in India and the TVC film has been conceptualised and created by Ogilvy Mumbai. The bottle can be ordered via a website by filling in the gift recipient’s residential address and a customised festive wish or message. The recipients will then receive the customised bottle via delivery, which will be pre-programmed to detect the presence of the sender’s mobile phone in order for it to be unlocked. This unique bottle acts as a symbolic reminder of a promise made to meet in person.
Speaking about the initiative, Coca-Cola director of marketing Kaushik said, “We at Coca-Cola are excited to unveil a first-of-its-kind product innovation to our consumers. Digital enablement and product innovation are key pillars of growth for us at Coca-Cola, and our new “locked” bottle perfectly aligns with this strategy. The unique limited-edition gift bottle (that is available in India) is sure to inspire social connections, as people come together to meet, greet, connect, and share a (locked) Coke this Diwali.”
Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak added, “This is an invitation that I hope no one declines. We hope this beautiful merger of tech with humanity that has created the most inviting Diwali invitations sees people make the effort to go and visit the person inviting them, open the locked bottle of Coke, and enjoy it together.”
Brands
Lululemon picks former Nike executive to be its next chief
Heidi O’Neill, who helped grow Nike into a $45 billion giant, will take the top job in September
CANADA: Lululemon has found its next chief executive, and she comes with serious credentials. The athleisure giant named Heidi O’Neill as its new CEO on Wednesday, ending a search that has left the company running on interim leadership since earlier this year. O’Neill will take charge on September 8, 2026, based out of Vancouver, and will join the board on the same day.
O’Neill brings more than three decades of experience across performance apparel, footwear and sport. The bulk of that time was spent at Nike, where she was a central figure in one of corporate sport’s great growth stories, helping take the company from a $9 billion business to a $45 billion global powerhouse. She oversaw product pipelines, brand strategy and consumer connections, and played a significant role in shaping how Nike spoke to athletes around the world. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for the Dockers brand at Levi Strauss. She also brings boardroom experience from Spotify Technology, Hyatt Hotels and Lithia and Driveway.
The board was unequivocal in its enthusiasm. “We selected Heidi because of the breadth of her experience, her demonstrated success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale, and her ability to be a knowledgeable change and growth agent,” said Marti Morfitt, executive chair of Lululemon’s board.
O’Neill, for her part, was bullish. “Lululemon is an iconic brand with something rare: genuine guest love, a product ethos rooted in innovation, and a global platform still in the early stages of its potential,” she said. “My job will be to accelerate product breakthroughs, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world.”
Until she arrives, Meghan Frank and André Maestrini will continue as interim co-CEOs, before returning to their previous senior leadership roles once O’Neill steps in.
Lululemon is betting that a Nike veteran who helped build one of the world’s most powerful sports brands can do something similar for an athleisure label that has genuine love from its customers but is still chasing its full global potential. O’Neill has done it before at scale. The question now is whether she can do it again.
