Brands
Parineeti Chopra is Sugar Free brand ambassador
NEW DELHI: Actor Parineeti Chopra, who is fast climbimg the ladder to catch up with Virat Kohli and Ranbir Kapoor in television ads, will now promote the sugar substitute Sugar Free as its brand ambassador.
As part of its new brand campaign, the actor will be seen in a new television commercial that goes on air across general entertainment channels and news channels in the country. Sugar Free has also taken a step forward to reinvent itself and position the brand as a healthy alternate to direct consumption of sugar.
The brand’s new tagline – Smartness Waali Sweetness – is aimed at attracting the audience to make a healthy choice of giving up sugar while continuing to retain sweetness.
The new TVC which went on air on 5 June sees Parineeti playing the role of a young sister-in-law prodding her brother-in-law to make a smart choice by adding Sugar Free to his post-work out nimbu paani. The campaign will be supported by a surround marketing plan including print, on-ground and digital media engagement. The new TVC is directed by Prashant Madan from Nirvana Films.
Zydus Wellness COO Tarun Arora said: “Our new campaign is all about making smarter choices. Today, consumers are inundated with a variety of options – be it foods, consumer goods or even health. Sugar Free is their partner in making an intelligent, smart choice of taste without having to give up on their indulgences. The concept of ‘Smartness Waali Sweetness’ emphasizes on the smarter choice – To give up sugar, not the sweetness”.
He added that Chopra’s transformation which is a reflection of her dedication and her willpower to make smart health choices resonated well with what the Zydus intended to say. “We have no doubt that this association with Parineeti will provide a good reason to the consumer and inspire them to opt for a smarter, healthier lifestyle without much compromise or change”.
”Parineeti Chopra has been the talk of the town with her recent transformation from a bubbly girl-next-door persona to becoming the poster-girl for fitness. She is the new youth icon to relate with when it comes to being fit; a true embodiment of the brand’s philosophy of bringing in a fitter lifestyle”.
Chopra said “I am excited to be a part of this journey. I have always had a sweet tooth and can totally relate to how difficult it can be for someone to give up on sugar. It’s great how Sugar Free can help one to be off sugar but not sweetness. Healthy foods are not the only option. Making a healthy choice, consciously helps. Even during my weight loss transition, I fulfilled all my cravings just by opting for some smarter choices. Sugar Free was a natural fit for me to associate with and I took up the opportunity at the first instance. I haven’t given up on my indulgences. Just made some smart moves.”
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.
