From Intern to Retirement to CEO: The Comeback Story of Nike’s new boss

Nike has appointed their new CEO, Elliot Hill, a company veteran who will be taking over John Donahoe.

Hill began his journey at Nike as an intern in apparel sales in 1988. He climbed up the corporate ladder within 30 years to become the president of consumer and marketplace, overseeing Nike’s $39 billion budget. With a wealth of experience and knowledge within the industry, Hill is well respected by his colleagues, who claim that “Elliot Hill is one of the most outstanding C-suite executives I have ever worked with”.

Unfortunately, the appointment of Donahoe led to many C-suite members, including Hill, leaving the company in a reorganisation. Donahoe’s four-year tenure was turbulent, with Nike losing their core consumer base to Brooks in the running shoe space. Multiple waves of layoffs and the company’s single-worst trading day in history set the stage for his dismissal and Hill’s return to the company.

A Nike insider said that employees were jubilant when the announcement of Hill’s appointment was made. While the new leadership is hailed with praise and joy, Hill’s journey to turning things around is going to be an uphill battle, especially when most of his experienced executives have departed in 2020.

Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/91194053/who-is-nikes-new-ceo-elliott-hill-every-old-employees-favorite-pick-for-the-job