Nike's New CEO Has An Impressive Swoosh CV
John Donahoe is out and Elliott Hill is in at . The came on Thursday September 19, and Hill is due to take over as CEO and President from October 14. And while Donahoe’s non-sneaker background and lack of Swoosh experience were believed to have caused some issues for the old CEO, the same can’t be said for Hill – a Nike veteran of 32 years.
Like many old-school Nike heads, Hill has a background in sports. He has a Bachelors in Kinesiology from Texas Christian University, and a Masters in Sports Administration from Ohio University. Pre-Nike, Hill was working as an assistant athletic trainer for the Dallas Cowboys. Hill made the move to Beaverton in 1988, where he started the Swoosh life as an intern in apparel sales. He worked his way up through sales management, taking on Vice Presidential roles from the year 2000 onwards across EMEA and then the USA. In 2006, he became Vice President of Global Retail, a position he held for four years.
Hill then continued to work his way up the company, eventually becoming President of Consumer and Marketplace in 2018. According to his own LinkedIn, the role included ‘running the largest brands in the sports industry and [being] responsible for helping to grow NIKE, Inc. to $39 billion.’ It might come as no surprise that Hill was an initial candidate for the CEO job after Mark Parker announced his retirement in 2020, before the role eventually went to Donahoe. Hill then retired from Nike later that year.
As reported by , Hill went on to live the ‘ultimate sabbatical’ as he moved back to Texas. He even founded his own recreational baseball team, the . Fast Company also reported that until recently Hill had little intention of returning to Nike, while noted that former CEO and President Mark Parker and President of Consumer, Product and Brand Heidi O’Neill were other potential candidates for the job. According to BoF, the rumours flying around also extended to external candidates like Mary Dillon or retired Deckers CEO Dave Powers.
Now Hill is headed back to the Swoosh HQ. In a statement, he said; ‘Nike has always been a core part of who I am, and I’m ready to help lead it to an even brighter future. For 32 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with the best in the industry, helping to shape our company into the magical place it is today. I’m eager to reconnect with the many employees and trusted partners I’ve worked with over the years, and just as excited to build new, impactful relationships that will move us ahead. Together with our talented teams, I look forward to delivering bold, innovative products, that set us apart in the marketplace and captivate consumers for years to come.’
Hill’s LinkedIn also cites that sport is still a huge part of his life, as he enjoys running, hiking, cycling and skiing too. Now, all eyes are on Beaverton to see if he can get Nike back on track.