Nike on Wednesday named new heads of its sports marketing and legal arms, part of an expected shuffling of executive chairs under new CEO Elliott Hill.
Hill hasn’t spoken about his plans for Nike, but the executive moves seem consistent with plans the company previously announced to focus more on sports and get new products to market quicker.
Ann Miller, who most recently worked as Nike’s top lawyer, is now executive vice president for global sports marketing, one of the company’s top jobs.
She succeeds 26-year veteran John Slusher, who’s now in charge of the commercial arm of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Miller is an 18-year Nike veteran and a former college basketball player. In a press release, Nike said she will be charged with growing the company’s business with athletes and leagues and help Nike put sports “back at the center of its business.”
Under previous CEO John Donahoe, Nike bet heavily on lifestyle sneakers, a strategy that worked at first, but has since fizzled and created opportunities for competitors.
“Ann possesses a unique blend of athlete mindset, deep legal expertise, and exceptional leadership,” Hill said in a press release.
The company on Wednesday also announced Venkatesh Alagirisamy, an 18-year company veteran now working as its chief supply chain officer, will now report to Hill and join the senior leadership team. Nike said the move will improve speed and efficiency, another priority.
Rob Leinwand, a 20-year Nike veteran and vice president and deputy general counsel, will succeed Miller as the company’s top legal executive.
Miller and Leinwand also will join Nike’s senior leadership team and report to Hill.
– Matthew Kish covers business, including the sportswear and banking industries. Reach him at 503-221-4386, mkish@oregonian.com or @matthewkish.
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