Brands
Sip happens as TOVA gets a wellness boost from the Poonawallas
MUMBAI: When heritage meets herb, the result is a wellness wave in a bottle. In a move that blends Ayurvedic wisdom with cutting-edge consumer health innovation, Yohan and Michelle Poonawalla have poured capital and confidence into TOVA, a mass-premium beverage brand known for its immunity-boosting, herb-infused packaged water. The strategic investment by the Poonawalla Group signals a bold endorsement of India’s evolving wellness market, where ancient traditions are being smartly reimagined for modern palates.
Founded in 2022 by Lakshmi and PS Srinivasan under Ayushkalki Wellness, TOVA has been bottling centuries of Ayurvedic knowledge into light, flavourful sips aimed at daily immunity and wellbeing. With formulas backed by R&D from top Indian food tech institutes, the brand champions a more inclusive, mass-premium approach to healthy hydration without the synthetic buzzwords or elitist price tags.
“Investing in TOVA is an extension of our belief in promoting a healthier future,” said Poonawalla Group chairman Yohan Poonawalla. “We are excited to support ventures that combine traditional wisdom with modern innovation. TOVA’s vision of bottling the benefits of Ayurveda in a convenient and appealing form is perfectly aligned with today’s wellness-conscious consumer, and we look forward to mentoring and supporting their journey towards becoming a household name.”
The Poonawallas’ interest in health, sustainability and innovation is well documented spanning sectors from engineering to green energy. With this new backing, TOVA is poised to scale up R&D, expand its distribution, and step more confidently into India’s health-forward mainstream.
“We see immense potential in TOVA’s unique approach to health and wellness. Their focus on research, quality, and innovation resonates with our values. This partnership not only aligns with our broader commitment to sustainability and wellness but also provides an opportunity to impact lives positively on a mass scale,” said Poonawalla Group director Michelle Poonawalla.
From school runs to boardrooms, wellness is no longer niche and TOVA taps directly into that shift. Whether it’s Ashwagandha-infused water for calm or Tulsi-laced hydration for immunity, the brand offers functional, natural solutions in a form that fits busy, urban lives.
“We are deeply honoured to have the support of the Poonawalla Group,” said TOVA co-founders Lakshmi and PS Srinivasan. “Their belief in our vision and commitment to nurturing innovation will play a critical role in accelerating TOVA’s growth. This partnership empowers us to strengthen our R&D, expand our distribution, and deepen our impact on promoting everyday wellness.”
With 14 million households now actively seeking Ayurvedic solutions, the timing couldn’t be better. And with the Poonawallas on board, TOVA isn’t just riding the wellness trend, it’s bottling a movement.
Wellness just got a new signature flavour and it’s Poonawalla-approved.
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.
