Nike’s Top Strategy, Communications Officers Exit in Shakeup

Nike Inc.’s top strategy and communications executives are leaving the company, adding to the list of senior leadership changes under chief executive officer Elliott Hill.

Chief strategy and transformation officer Daniel Heaf is departing after management opted to eliminate his role, according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg News. The teams he oversaw will be integrated into the finance department.

Chief communications officer KeJuan Wilkins is also exiting after nearly 20 years rising through the ranks, according to the memo. He was promoted to that role in 2023 under the prior CEO John Donahoe. The company has yet to name a replacement.

Hill has reshuffled Nike’s senior management team since taking the top role in October, including naming new heads of sports marketing, legal and human resources departments.

Nike is attempting to end a sales slump after a tumultuous year of corporate layoffs and the CEO change. Hill is reshaping the company by returning to its sports roots and rekindling relationships with retail partners.

Nike is set to report its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. Analysts project that sales fell 11 percent for the quarter.

The shares fell 0.4 percent on Wednesday in New York trading. The stock has dropped 3.5 percent this year through Wednesday’s close, in line with the decline of the S&P 500 Index over the same period.

Wilkins and Heaf didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

By Kim Bhasin

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