Nike Inc. has created five new vice presidents’ positions — three in Asia-Pacific, one in Europe and one in global sports marketing.
As the Beaverton, Ore., athletic giant expands its international presence, particularly in Asia, this moves reflects its commitment to develop leadership talent worldwide, the company said.
In the Asia-Pacific Region, where Nike generated double-digit sales growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, Nike promoted three longtime employees to vice president: Willem Haitink, vice president and general manager for Nike China; Jim Godbout, vice president and general manager for Nike Japan, and Davide Grasso, vice president for Asia-Pacific marketing. All three will report to Roland Wolfram, vice president of the Asia-Pacific region.
Haitink, general manager for Nike China and Hong Kong for the last year, has been at Nike for 12 years and has had management experience in each of Nike’s regions. Godbout also has racked a dozen years at the athletic giant, where he has been general manager of Nike Japan for the last year. With 11 years at the firm, Grasso has been working as Asia-Pacific director of marketing since 2004.
As Nike’s fastest-growing market, China leads the Asia-Pacific region’s growth with sales that doubled in the past two years to more than $600 million. In the next two years, Nike expects its revenues from China alone will surpass the $1 billion mark, positioning China as the number-two country in which Nike does business. The U.S. is number one.
In global sports marketing, John Slusher has been named vice president of sports marketing for both Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Slusher will report to global sports marketing vice president Adam Helfant. Slusher joined Nike in 1998 and has had posts in the global sports marketing group, including manager of business affairs and associate director.
In the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions, DeeDee Wilson has been named vice president of finance and chief financial officer. A certified public accountant and internal auditor who joined Nike in 1995, Wilson has been chief financial officer for the region and succeeds Jim Allaker, recently appointed general manager for the United Kingdom, in leading the strategic planning and other functions. Wilson reports to Eunan McLaughlin, the region’s vice president and general manager.