Brands
Reliance, Surrey join hands as Oval Invincibles rebrands to MI London
MUMBAI/LONDON: Reliance Industries and Surrey County Cricket Club have struck a partnership to run the Oval Invincibles franchise in The Hundred, assuming ownership from the England and Wales Cricket Board. The deal gives Reliance a 49 per cent stake and Surrey 51 per cent. From 2026, both the men’s and women’s sides will play as MI London.
The Invincibles are The Hundred’s standout force, sweeping five titles in five years – with the women taking the first two and the men landing three in a row from 2023 to 2025. Their dominance has been driven by Surrey talent such as Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Will Jacks and Alice Capsey, alongside global stars including Marizanne Kapp, Rashid Khan and Adam Zampa.
Mumbai Indians, owned by Reliance, bring deep experience in franchise cricket, with seven teams across five countries and a haul of 13 titles, including five IPL wins and two Women’s Premier League trophies. Every team in the MI portfolio now holds a championship.
Nita M Ambani said, “We are delighted to welcome MI London into the One Family and take the MI legacy to new frontiers. London holds a special place in the heart of cricket, and we are honoured to be part of its rich heritage.”
Akash Ambani said, “The Invincibles’ winning record and spirit of excellence perfectly embody the MI ethos of passion, resilience, and teamwork. Building on our shared passion for cricket, we look forward to collaborating with our partners at Surrey CCC and building on the legacy of The Hundred’s most successful team.”
Surrey chair Oli Slipper said Reliance’s record in cricket and business made them ideal partners. The MI London identity, he added, would help build a bigger global fanbase and strengthen long-term investment in Surrey cricket.
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.
