Last week, Mark Parker spoke at a rare all-staff meeting and apologized to employees for allowing a corporate culture that failed to recognize serious complaints about workplace issues. Now, four more Nike executives have left the company.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Steve Lesnard, vice president and general manager of global running, Tommy Kain, director of sports marketing, Helen Kim, vice president and general manager of Nike East, North America, and Simon Pestridge, vice president of performance categories global marketing, have all exited Nike.
All four executives were Nike veterans, but Helen Kim is the first woman out of the 10 total departures since Nike’s probe began. According to The Wall Street Journal, Nike has completed the initial phase of its internal investigation into complaints of inappropriate workplace behavior.
In March, The Wall Street Journal reported that Nike had begun its internal probe after a group of women within the company circulated a survey regarding workplace behavior and gender imbalances in pay and promotion.
Several weeks ago, Nike promoted two women — Kellie Leonard, its new chief of diversity, and Amy Montagne, vice president and general manager of global categories — to positions left vacant by the ouster of senior male employees.
In March, Nike’s No. 2 executive, Trevor Edwards, resigned his position. Days later, the brand forced out Jayme Martin, a vice president and general manager of global categories including women’s, running, training, and basketball.
Today, Nike Inc. stock has dropped from $69.19 a share to $68.32.
UPDATE 5/8/18: Ibrahem Hasan, senior creative director, has also exited the company, according to The Oregonian.
Two more Nike people moves: Rosemary St. Clair to head up global women's category, replacing Amy Montagne who was promoted last week. And Cesar Garcia to head global running, replacing Steve Lesnard, who is no longer with Nike.
— Sara Germano (@germanotes) May 7, 2018
Image via Nike
Source: The Wall Street Journal
This shows the kind of toxic environment that actually existed in Beaverton, and it is telling how the culture is being forced to change during the time of Trump. I thought it was interesting that Parker released the Black Lives Matter press, so let’s see where this all goes.