Nike Shakes Up Leadership Amid Turnaround Plan

With new reporting lines and fewer executive roles, Nike is tightening its structure under CEO Elliott Hill’s new sports-first strategy

Nike is deepening its turnaround by overhauling its senior leadership ranks as CEO Elliott Hill works to pull the activewear giant back into fighting form, resetting its performance identity amid uneven demand and rising competition.

In a letter to employees this week, Hill outlined the changes, meant to accelerate “win now” actions that he says remove layers and bring the brand closer to athletes and the marketplace.

The internal reset follows a slate of tech-heavy innovations Nike previewed in October, including a powered running shoe system and its first neuroscience-based designs and the official debut of NikeSkims, a women-focused offshoot of Kim Kardashian’s Skims.

For Hill, the shake-up is one of several moves he has made since slipping back into the Swoosh’s C-suite after retiring in 2020. The longtime Nike executive, who once ran Nike’s consumer and marketplace business, took the reins as CEO last October, a change the board said was the right call to lead Nike into its next stage of growth. At the center of it is a sports-first approach, a point Hill has emphasized since his return.

New COO Role Created 

Nike is creating a chief operating officer position that will integrate technology into the company’s sport strategy. Venkatesh “Venky” Alagirisamy, a nearly 20-year Nike veteran who serves as chief supply chain officer, will step into the role on Dec. 8.

The move folds Nike’s core technology organization into operations and eliminates the chief technology officer role. Dr. Muge Dogan, who held that position, will leave the company.

Regional Leaders Elevated

The changes also elevate the heads of Nike’s four geographies, who will now join the senior leadership team and report directly to Hill. The executives are Angela Dong in Greater China, Carl Grebert in EMEA, Tom Peddie in North America and Cathy Sparks in APLA.

“It’s significant our brand presidents and our geography leaders are sitting together at the same Nike, Inc. leadership table,” Hill wrote. “With this newly evolved SLT (senior leadership team), I’m confident we’ll be able to accelerate the core aspects of our Win Now actions. Collectively, these changes amount to us eliminating layers and better positioning Nike to continue to have an impact the way only Nike can.”

Chief Commercial Officer Role Eliminated

Nike is eliminating the chief commercial officer role held by Craig Williams, who will depart the company. Williams previously led Jordan Brand and oversaw Nike’s marketplace strategy.

Global Sales and Nike Direct will now report to EVP and CFO Matt Friend. Hill wrote that Friend’s understanding of the global business “will be especially valuable now.”

Brick-and-Mortar Moves

The emphasis on sport also extends to Nike’s retail footprint. The company reopened its renovated Portland store last month, rebuilding the space as a sports-led community and culture hub with running, training, university gear and experiential retail experiences. The relaunch follows a string of updated locations in Tokyo and London.

Nike will release its second-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on Dec. 18.

The post Nike Shakes Up Leadership Amid Turnaround Plan appeared first on Athletech News.