Brands
Nitesh Kanchan named CEO of Arrow
MUMBAI: Arvind Fashions has appointed Nitesh Kanchan as chief executive of Arrow, its heritage menswear brand known for formalwear and modern work-life dressing. The move, effective immediately, marks a renewed push to expand Arrow’s presence across product, digital and omni-channel retail.
Arvind Fashions MD and chief executive Amisha Jain, said Kanchan brings “a dynamic and future-ready” approach, citing his mix of technical expertise, commercial acumen and digital capability. She said his leadership would help accelerate Arrow’s growth through innovation, channel expansion and consumer-led strategies.
Kanchan has more than two decades of experience across fashion, beauty, personal care and retail. At Arvind Fashions, he served as chief digital officer, overseeing marketplace operations, the Nnnow platform and key omni-channel programmes. He previously held roles including chief executive of Sephora India, chief operating officer at Arrow, and senior posts in business finance and digital for Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein.
His career spans merchandising, planning, supply chain, licensing and retail operations, giving him a full view of the product-to-customer chain. He holds a BTech in textile technology from IIT Delhi and has completed an executive programme in digital transformation at IIM Bangalore.
As chief executive of Arrow, Kanchan will focus on strengthening the brand’s core in formal and occasion wear while expanding in smart casual and lifestyle categories. His priorities include sharpening the design narrative, improving customer experience across physical and digital channels, and using data and technology to deliver profitable growth.
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.
