Nike CEO Elliott Hill enacts significant regional leadership changes, replacing longtime veterans. The company faces ongoing market challenges, with performance varying sharply across key geographic regions. This restructuring is a core component of Nike’s broader “Win Now” operational and strategic realignment.
In a decisive move to reinvigorate its business trajectory, Nike Inc. has executed a substantial shake-up of its regional leadership. Company veterans Carl Grebert and Angela Dong are departing as Chief Executive Elliott Hill sharpens the senior team’s focus on accelerating performance. This restructuring, which follows Hill’s December elevation of regional leaders to report directly to him, represents the latest in a series of operational pivots since he assumed the CEO role in 2024.
Hill communicated the changes in an internal memo, stating the shifts are driven by the company’s maxim “to Be on the Offense Always.” He expressed confidence that the new structure will “further accelerate our Sport Offense, advance our Win Now actions, and position NIKE, Inc. to continue having impact in the way only we can.” The leadership team has transformed considerably under Hill’s tenure, marked by the retirement of several long-serving executives, though it remains predominantly composed of Nike insiders.
The December reorganization also included the elimination of the chief technology officer and chief commercial officer positions. Concurrently, Chief Supply Chain Officer Venky Alagirisamy expanded his role to become chief operating officer, assuming responsibility for the technology department alongside his existing duties. This consolidation underscores a push for greater operational synergy and efficiency.
This leadership transition unfolds against a backdrop of persistent challenges in Nike’s multi-year turnaround plan. The company’s most recent quarterly results, released in December, revealed a modest 1% year-over-year revenue increase to $12.4 billion, primarily fueled by growth in North America. However, Hill highlighted continued struggles in Greater China, where sales declined sharply by 17% during the quarter.
Addressing analysts, the CEO reiterated that Nike’s recovery will be asynchronous across global markets, noting that a turnaround in the critical China region is expected to take considerable additional time. The latest leadership changes are positioned as a pivotal step to directly empower regional strategies and navigate these complex geographic headwinds as Nike strives to reclaim robust, widespread growth.
