Longtime Nike CEO to step down; to be succeeded by former eBay chief

A digital executive is set to take the reins at Nike.

The athletic sportswear giant announced that its CEO, Mark Parker, will step down in January. Parker, a 40-year Nike veteran who has served as CEO since 2006 and as chairman since 2016, will become executive chairman and continue to lead the board.

In a nod to the brand’s increased emphasis on digital, Nike appointed John Donahoe as its next CEO, effective Jan.13, 2020. Donahoe is the current president and CEO of ServiceNow and chairman of PayPal Holdings. From 2008 through 2015, he was president and CEO of eBay, and previously was the CEO and worldwide managing director of Bain & Co. Donahoe will remain on the Nike board, where he has been a member since 2014.

“I am delighted John will join our team,” stated Parker. “His expertise in digital commerce, technology, global strategy and leadership combined with his strong relationship with the brand, make him ideally suited to accelerate our digital transformation and to build on the positive impact of our consumer direct offense.”