Brands
Performace sets sights on South East Asia expansion
MUMBAI: Performace is gearing up to go global, announcing its strategic expansion into South East Asia with Vishal Raj at the helm as business head. Known for his stints at Jiosaavn, Bytedance, Network18, and Belive, Vishal brings nearly two decades of experience in digital advertising, media sales, and APAC business development to the table.
Singapore will serve as the regional headquarters, with plans to build teams and partnerships in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. The expansion underscores Performace’s aim to strengthen its presence in high-growth markets and deliver data-driven, performance-focused marketing solutions to clients across the region.
Performace CEO Saurabh Gaur said, “Expanding into southeast Asia is a crucial milestone in our journey to become a global player. The region’s dynamic digital ecosystem offers immense opportunity, and Vishal’s proven APAC expertise positions us to deliver meaningful value to clients and partners.”
Welcoming his new role, Vishal Raj added, “My goal is to leverage Performace’s insights and technology to drive measurable growth across southeast Asia. I am focused on building high-performance teams, strategic partnerships, and scalable, sustainable business operations. By combining local market insights with innovative solutions, we aim to create a strong foundation for success across the region.”
With this move, Performace is not just expanding its footprint but reinforcing its reputation for strategic innovation, operational discipline, and client-centricity, setting the stage for long-term global growth in digital marketing and performance media solutions.
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.
