- Nike last week announced leaders of several critical business departments.
- The announcements included one departure and the elevation of two female executives.
Over the past few weeks, Nike announced a string of executive changes, including two resignations and new heads of its women's, Asia, diversity, and technology efforts.
The announcements come as the company enters the final stretch of its fiscal year, which ends May 31, and as it adjusts to rapid changes in consumer behavior and works to meet diversity and "digital transformation" goals.
The announcements included the elevation of two female executives. In recent years, Nike has been criticized for a lack of women in management, including in $4. Nike's worked to address the problem through $4. In its $4, Nike said 43% of its executives, defined as vice president or higher, are women, up from 39% a year ago and on track to hit a 45% goal by 2025.
Nike also remains focused on a business plan called the Consumer Direct Acceleration or CDA, which prioritizes direct and digital sales.
"These changes will further build on our strengths and underscore our commitment to accelerate our women's business, invest in our geographies, and further grow our top talent," Heidi O'Neill, Nike's president of consumer and marketplace, said in a press release announcing three of the changes. "We remain committed to transforming Nike faster to define the marketplace of the future and unlock the next phase of growth through CDA."
Here's a rundown of the changes:
Ratnakar Lavu
New job: Lavu resigned from Nike in late February.
Old job: Global chief digital information officer
Lavu, who $4, resigned suddenly in late February. In an internal $4 and a subsequent $4, the company didn't give a reason for his exit.
Nike is in the middle of a sweeping "digital transformation." Lavu was $4. But his tenure also coincided with blistering criticisms from technology employees, including widespread job dissatisfaction, $4.
Nike and Lavu have not commented on the reasons for Lavu's abrupt exit.
Amy Montagne
New job: Vice president and general manager of Nike's women's business
Old job: Vice president and general manager of Asia and Latin America
Montagne is an $4 who previously worked for nine years for the Gap. In 2022, $4, noting Nike's recent success in Asia.
Cathy Sparks
New job: Vice president and general manager of Asia and Latin America (She succeeds Montagne.)
Old job: Vice president of Nike Direct in Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Sparks $4 in the company's Portland store, according to her LinkedIn profile. She has worked in a number of retail roles and became a vice president in 2011. In her most recent role, she focused on digital and direct sales.
She has "deep experience in marketplace transformation and consumer-led growth through brand, product, and experiences," Nike $4.
Whitney Malkiel
New job: Malkiel decided to leave the company, $4.
Old job: Vice president and general manager of Nike's women's business (Montagne's new job)
Malkiel also was among the six female Nike executives $4. The publication described the group as the "women at the center of the company's transformation."
"Whitney played a significant role in leading our women's business over the last three years and in her more than 20 years at Nike," O'Neill said in the news release.
James Loduca
New job: Chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer
Old job: Vice president of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility, Twitter
Nike internally $4 on Tuesday. He succeeded Jarvis Sam, who $4. Loduca is the company's fourth head of diversity since 2020.
Diversity and inclusion remain top priorities for Nike. Six months after becoming CEO in January 2020, John Donahoe wrote to employees that the company must "get our own house in order" in regards to equity and inclusion. Donahoe's message came two years after a string of $4 at the company. Nike's taken a $4.
"Excited to be joining Nike as its new Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer!," Loduca $4. "In an increasingly polarized time, sport is one of the few things that still brings us together. Nike believes that if you have a body, you are an athlete– and I'm thrilled to be joining the team and help lead efforts to create a level playing field where everyone can win."
Deepak Arora
New job responsibilities: Interim co-head for global technology, alongside Ryan Fusselman, leading the company's ongoing "digital transformation"
Current job: VP of commerce engineering
In an internal email sent earlier this month, Nike $4 of global technology. His appointment was announced roughly two weeks after the $4. Arora remains in his current position, which he $4 as working with the company's chief marketing officer and co-leading Nike's digital marketing transformation.
Ryan Fusselman
New job responsibilities: Interim co-head for global technology, alongside Deepak Arora, leading the company's ongoing "digital transformation"
Current job: Chief information security officer
Fusselman, a 10-year Nike veteran, joins Arora as an interim co-head for global technology, according to an internal email announcing his appointment viewed by Insider. Fusselman previously $4, according to his LinkedIn profile.