Nike makes strategic leadership changes

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Apr 22, 2016

Nike, Inc. announced on Thursday evening numerous strategic management and organizational changes.

Michael Spillane has been promoted to President, Product and Merchandising; Elliott Hill will become President of Geographies and Integrated Marketplace; Heidi O’Neill has been named President of DTC; Davide Grasso will become President and CEO of Converse; and finally Greg Hoffman will be Chief Marketing Officer. In addition, Jeanne Jackson will move to a new advisement role with the company; Christiana Shi will retire from the company and Jim Calhoun will leave Nike to pursue other interests.
 
Spillane has been with Nike for 9 years, and held the positions, VP/GM of Footwear, VP/GM of Greater China and President and CEO of Converse. He will succeed Jeanne Jackson as President, Product and Merchandising, and Jackson will move to a new future strategy advisement role working directly with Nike President and CEO Mark Parker.

Hill will assume the role of President of Geographies and Integrated Marketplace and will oversee the wholesale and direct to consumer businesses. He has worked for the company for almost three decades, having held senior leadership positions in Sales, Geographies and DTC. Hill most recently served as President of Geographies and Sales.
 
O’Neill succeeds Christiana Shi as President of DTC. Shi will retire from the company in September to spend more time with her family. Her successor, O’Neill has been at Nike since 1998 and was the VP / GM of Nike Women’s business for seven years and led strong growth in the category before moving to VP of Nike Stores in 2014. As President of DTC, O’Neill will report to Hill.
 
Grasso succeeds Jim Calhoun as President and CEO of Converse. Calhoun will leave the company to pursue other interests after the transition with Grasso. The new President and CEO of Converse, Grasso worked over 20 years with Nike and has been Chief Marketing Officer for the last three years. Greg Hoffman will succeed Grasso as CMO after previously serving as VP of Global Brand Creative and Experience.
 
Spillane and Grasso will report to Mark Parker, Hill and Hoffman will report to Trevor Edwards, President, Nike Brand and O’Neill will report to Hill.