Nike, Inc.

Players from 32 countries have poured into Brazil for a month-long contest of extraordinary soccer skill, known as the Copa do Mundo, the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Cheering them is expected to be a total of some 3.7 million fans and tourists, adding an astonishing $3.3 billion USD ($6.7 billion Brazilian Real) to this nation’s economy. According to Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism, the average foreign visitor will attend four Copa do Mundo matches and spend approximately $2,488 during their stay.

The Sports Authority enlisted the aid of current and former San Francisco 49ers greats to promote awareness of 18 stores it remodeled recently in the Bay Area.

Grand re-opening festivities were scheduled for the 18 stores beginning on Saturday, June 28. Each of the remodeled stores features an intuitive design and specialty sport shops with products from top brands like Nike, Under Armour, Adidas and The North Face, according to the company.

Beaverton, Ore. - John Donahoe, 54, president and CEO of EBay Inc., has been appointed to the board of directors of Nike Inc. Donahoe joined EBay in 2005 as president of EBay Marketplaces, and was appointed president and CEO in 2008.

Nike has promoted Reenie Benziger to VP of its global apparel business. Benziger moves from her current role as VP/GM of global young athletes.

“Reenie’s deep consumer knowledge and experience in the global apparel industry will continue to position Nike as an innovative brand with consumers,” said Jeanne Jackson, president of product and merchandising.

Carl Grebert, a 17-year Nike veteran, replaces Benziger as VP/GM of global young athletes. Grebert most recently served as VP/GM of Nike Japan.

Atlanta — Kathy Daly-Jennings, who most recently served as head of industry, retail vertical for Google, has joined Havertys as senior VP, marketing. She will replace Thomas P. Curran, who will retire at the end of June 2014, and report to Richard D. Gallagher, executive VP, merchandising.

Prior to Google, Daly-Jennings held marketing leadership positions at The Home Depot and The Coca-Cola Company.  

Atlanta — Shapewear wholesaler and retailer Spanx announced that Jan Singer has been named CEO of the company. She joins Spanx from Nike, where she held various senior leadership roles, including corporate VP of global apparel and corporate VP of global footwear.  

Singer, who will report to Spanx founder and owner Sara Blakely, is expected to come on board in early July.  Gregg Ribatt, interim CEO, will assist Singer through a transition, and then continue to serve on the company’s board of advisors.

Spanx has named Jan Singer as CEO, reporting to founder and owner of the company, Sara Blakely.

Interim CEO Gregg Ribatt will assist Singer through a transition period, and then continue to serve on the company’s board of advisers. Singer is expected to join the company officially in early July.

Arlington, Va. - The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), along with several retail brands, has launched the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center (R-CISC), the centerpiece of which is a Retail Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Retail-ISAC).

Ten years ago, demographic experts predicted a looming talent shortage: When the massive baby boom generation retired, the small Generation X would not have enough experienced leaders and managers to fill the positions that boomers would vacate.

Nike has elected Michelle A. Peluso to the company’s board of directors. Peluso is CEO of Gilt, an online shopping destination offering its members top designer labels at up to 60% off retail.