Brands
Indkal Technologies announces Karan Johar as its BLACK+DECKER® ambassador
Mumbai: Indkal Technologies, the license partner for BLACK+DECKER® large appliances in India announced that renowned director, producer and TV personality Karan Johar will be the ambassador for air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines business in India.
BLACK+DECKER® Large appliances offer a premium easy-by-design product range built with a host of intuitive features aligning with Karan Johar’s style, craftsmanship, and commitment to delivering superior experiences both on and off the screen.
Speaking about the partnership, Indkal Technologies CEO Anand Dubey said, “We are thrilled to have Karan Johar as the face of BLACK+DECKER® large appliances in India. We believe Karan’s style compliments our customers’ appetite for premium products with cutting-edge technology, top performance, and elegant design.”
The association with Karan Johar marks a significant milestone for Indkal as it continues to expand its presence and bring both innovation as well as versatility to the Indian market.
Sharing his excitement, director, producer and TV personality Karan Johar said, “I am delighted to be associated with BLACK+DECKER®, a brand known for its high standards and innovative products. I’ve always believed that high quality and innovation lends style and class to everything in life, and BLACK+DECKER® brand has exemplified that for many decades. I’m looking forward to being a part of this journey and introducing consumers to the fantastic range of BLACK+DECKER® Large Appliances.”
Stanley Black & Decker, commercial director licensing Amit Datta said, “As a global leader in home products, we continue to connect with our customers through meaningful experiences and deliver on the BLACK+DECKER® brand promise. This collaboration combines our easy by design vision with Karan’s reach and immaculate grasp of consumers in India.”
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.
