Nike Appoints Ann Miller to Lead Global Sports Marketing Amid Strategic Shift

Nike has appointed Ann Miller as Executive Vice President of Global Sports Marketing, a role that shifts the company’s focus back toward sports and athlete engagement under the leadership of CEO Elliott Hill.

Miller, an 18-year veteran of Nike with a background as the company’s top legal officer, steps into one of Nike’s most influential roles, succeeding John Slusher, who will retire after 26 years.

The leadership shift, which also includes Rob Leinwand assuming the position of EVP and Chief Legal Officer, reflects Nike’s renewed focus on athletes and sports-centric strategies.

According to Hill, Miller’s “athlete mindset, legal expertise, and exceptional leadership” make her well-suited to drive this vision forward. Nike aims to leverage her experience to strengthen partnerships with athletes, leagues, and sports federations, aligning with a commitment to put sports back at the core of its brand.

Miller’s appointment comes as Nike reevaluates strategies that prioritised lifestyle sneakers under former CEO John Donahoe. While that approach initially saw success, competitors have since capitalised on the shift away from sports performance, creating opportunities Nike now seeks to reclaim. Hill, citing the strategic alignment under his leadership, notes that Miller’s role will include “end-to-end integration of athletes” in innovation and brand storytelling.

This shift also extends to supply chain improvements, as Chief Supply Chain Officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy will now report directly to Hill, with a mandate to improve speed and efficiency across Nike’s operations.

As Miller and Leinwand join Nike’s senior leadership team, Hill’s strategic appointments are expected to impact Nike’s agility in a competitive market, reinforcing its commitment to athletes and performance-driven innovation.

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