Brands
Hisense launches Intelli Cool Pro air conditioners in India
New range brings rapid inverter cooling, Wi Fi voice control and R32 refrigerant
MUMBAI: Hisense is turning up the cool factor in India’s home appliance market with the launch of its Intelli Cool Pro Series room air conditioners, a new premium range designed to combine faster cooling with smarter connectivity.
Announced on 9 March, the launch expands the company’s residential air conditioner portfolio in India and brings its latest inverter technology and connected features to Indian homes.
At the centre of the new range is Hisense’s QSD rapid inverter technology, designed to accelerate compressor performance and bring down room temperature quickly after the unit is switched on. The system is built on the company’s nine generations of inverter development and aims to deliver stable cooling, reduced power fluctuations and improved long term reliability.
The Intelli Cool Pro Series also features an AI smart mode that automatically adjusts cooling levels according to room conditions and user preferences. The goal is simple: maintain comfort while keeping energy consumption in check.
Beyond cooling, the company is pitching the new models as a solution for healthier indoor air. The units are equipped with a 4 in 1 healthy filter designed to capture fine particulate matter, while a self clean function helps maintain hygiene within the system and improves overall air quality inside the home.
Connectivity is another key focus. The air conditioners come with built in Wi Fi through the Hisense ConnectLife platform, allowing users to control and monitor their AC remotely using a smartphone. Voice control is supported in both English and Hindi, while features such as scheduling and temperature customisation make it possible to manage cooling settings from anywhere.
From an environmental perspective, the new range uses R32 refrigerant, which has a global warming potential around 65 per cent lower than the commonly used R410A refrigerant. The company says the shift supports its broader push towards more energy efficient and environmentally responsible appliances.
The Intelli Cool Pro Series is designed to deliver powerful and even cooling across different room sizes. It includes features such as quick chill technology with 3D airflow design, four way auto swing for uniform air distribution and long distance airflow to cool larger spaces effectively. Multiple sleep modes, quiet operation and stabiliser free performance are also part of the package.
Hisense India chief executive officer Pankaj Rana said modern air conditioning needs to go beyond basic cooling as consumers increasingly look for intelligent performance, energy efficiency and healthier indoor environments. He added that the Intelli Cool Pro Series combines rapid inverter technology, AI driven adaptability and smart connectivity to meet the evolving needs of Indian households.
Along with the Intelli Cool Pro Series, Hisense has also introduced the Intelli Cool Series and the Eco Cool Series in India, further expanding its presence in the country’s growing air conditioner market.
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.
