U.S. sportswear giant Nike Inc. announced several leadership changes, including the promotion of John Hoke, a 30-year Nike veteran, to the role of chief innovation officer, effective immediately.
SEE ALSO: Nike returns to growth in Greater China, Asia Pacific remains steady
Hoke, who most recently served as Nike’s first chief design officer, will partner with Tom Clarke, president, innovation, to amplify and accelerate Nike’s innovation strategy and distinction.
Martin Lotti succeeds Hoke as chief design officer. With decades of expertise and leadership at Nike, Lotti assumes Nike’s top design role after most recently serving as chief design officer for the Jordan brand. In his new role, Lotti will oversee all aspects of Nike design, from footwear and apparel to brand and retail concepts.
In addition to the design management reshuffle, Nicole Hubbard Graham will become the company’s new chief marketing officer, effective January 2. Graham, a former 18-year Nike veteran, will lead Nike’s global brand marketing team and oversee all aspects of marketing. Previously at Nike, she held various global marketing leadership roles across the business and geographies. Most recently, she was co-founder of Adopt, a minority-owned company and creative agency.
Graham succeeds Dirk-Jan ‘DJ’ van Hameren, who has decided to retire next summer, after 31 years with Nike.
“Innovation, design, and storytelling have always been the heart and soul of Nike. These leadership changes enable us to obsess further our unparalleled innovation, product, design, and storytelling to reimagine sport for the next generation of athletes,” said Heidi O’Neill, president, consumer, product and brand, Nike.
“Together, these leaders will deliver new levels of performance, style and breakthrough storytelling for consumers around the world.”
Hoke, Lotti and Graham will report to O’Neill.
Finally, Muge Erdirik Dogan, the former president of Amazon fashion, will join Nike as chief technology officer to further deepen and strengthen the speed, efficiency, and quality of Nike’s consumer experiences with products, platforms, and services.
Dogan’s new role with Nike is effective November 27.
In its most recent trading update in September, Nike Inc. said first-quarter revenues increased 2 percent to USD 12.9 billion, on the back of a return to sales growth in Greater China and a slight uptick in Asia Pacific Latin America sales.