Nike announces new leadership appointments

Nike opts for internal talent to cover three of its key positions in the organization chart. The sports equipment and fashion group has announced changes in the financial and operational directions, as well as in the area of ​​consumption and marketplace, due to the retirement of its current managers. The succession will be done in an orderly manner and will be completed by the end of 2020.

Heidi O’Neill, president of Nike Direct, will become president of Consumer and Marketplace instead of Elliott Hill. Andy Campion, on the other hand, will leave the financial direction to take over the operations after Eric Sprunk, who also retires. Campion’s position as chief operating officer will be picked up by Matthew Friend, the financial director of the operating segments and responsible for investor relations.

John Donahoe, CEO of the multinational since January 2020, has defended the commitment to internal talent since he considers that the work of O'Neill and Campion “has been instrumental in both evolving and driving Nike’s strategy over the last decade”. Now, with more gallons, the new head of the brand is confident that they’ll have a “greater impact on Nike’s success in the future.”

Nike demonstrates its commitment to internal talent because they’ve been key executives in the evolution of the company over the last decade

O’Neill will lead the entire business of direct sales to the consumer, as well as the global activity in the four geographic regions in which the company segments its business: North America; Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; China; Asia Pacific, and Latin America Latin. The executive will assume the role after being part of the Nik’s team for more than 21 years in the group, where she has undertaken various senior roles.

Campion, for its part, will lead Nike’s global technological and digital transformation, technological development, supply and manufacturing, demand and supply management, distribution and logistics, purchasing, sustainability and design, and connectivity in the workplace. The executive joined Nike in 2007 as vice president of global planning and development and held finance and strategy positions before becoming chief financial officer in 2015. Prior to joining Nike, he worked at Disney.

Friend was the last to join the sports brand, in 2009, he’ll be working on corporate strategy and development. In 2011 he was CFO of emerging markets, then assumed that corresponding role for global categories, products and functions, and ultimately for Nike as well.

These three changes in senior management are the most relevant that have occurred since the Oregon multinational announced the succession of Mark Parker. The chosen one was Donahoe, former president of eBay, with a clear objective to deepen the online offensive of the brand and its commitment to have a more direct relationship with consumers.

Nike ended the first six months of its fiscal year 2020, which runs from June to May, with a revenue of 21.1 billion dollars, 9% up. Net profit, on the other hand, shot up 28%, to 2.5 billion dollars, boosted by China and the direct consumer offensive initiated two years ago.

The Asian territory was where the biggest growth was detected,