Brands
Hero revs up Q1 with a profit bump and an EV jolt to the system
MUMBAI: EVs, exports, and earnings, Hero MotoCorp’s first quarter of FY26 was anything but idle. The world’s largest two-wheeler maker posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,706 crore for the April–June 2025 quarter, a staggering 65 per cent jump from Rs 1,032 crore a year ago. A significant portion Rs 722 crore of that windfall came from a one-time gain following the partial dilution of Hero’s stake in Ather Energy, which went public this quarter.
On a consolidated basis, Hero Motocorp clocked revenue from operations at Rs 9,728 crore, while standalone revenue stood at Rs 9,579 crore. Profit after tax (PAT) on a standalone basis was Rs 1,126 crore, flat compared to Rs 1,123 crore in Q1 FY25.
Despite a slight drop in volumes 13.67 lakh units sold this quarter versus 15.35 lakh last year, the bottom line remained buoyant thanks to a steady 14.4 per cent EBITDA margin (Rs 1,382 crore), mirroring last year’s performance. The consolidated EBITDA margin nudged slightly higher at 14.5 per cent.
Hero’s electric vehicle (EV) arm, VIDA, continues to plug into new opportunities. It launched a subscription-based Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model and introduced the Evooter VX2. A campaign titled ‘Charging Simple Hai’, timed with the IPL, spotlighted VIDA’s swappable battery tech.
On the global front, Hero pushed four new products into the Sri Lankan market in collaboration with long-time distributor Abans Auto: the Xoom 110, Hunk 160R 4V, Xtreme 125R and HF Deluxe.
The 125cc scooter segment, led by Destini 125 and Xoom 125, and the newly launched HF Deluxe Pro in the 100cc segment helped maintain retail traction. VAHAN registrations remained healthy, and the upcoming festive season could accelerate demand.
Premium positioning also got a boost with the Harley-Davidson 2025 line-up rollout, including the return of Street Bob and new Road Glide and Street Glide variants. Hero also opened new Premia stores across the country, reaching the 100-store milestone.
Hero is also tackling regulatory curves. While the company awaits clarity on obligations under the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Rules 2025, it has not yet accounted for any financial impact, citing lack of a defined pricing or certification framework.
Meanwhile, Hero continues to invest in brand visibility on and off the road. It signed golfers Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala as global ambassadors and added young Austrian rider Tobias Ebster to the Hero Motosports Rally team.
Hero’s leadership sounds confident. Hero Motocorp chief financial officer Vivek Anand noted strong performance across electric, global and premium categories and flagged a “robust pipeline of new launches” for the coming quarters.
Investors also got good news earlier this year, with the Board approving a final dividend of Rs 65 per share, taking the FY25 total to Rs 165 per share (8,250 per cent).
Despite a temporary production pause that impacted dispatches, Hero appears ready to hit the throttle as it enters the festive season. With electric mobility gaining traction, international markets humming, and Ather’s IPO money in the bank, Hero seems geared for a smooth ride into the rest of FY26.
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.
