Nike Shakes Up Leadership Team
Nike creates a new COO role for Venkatesh Alagirisamy while eliminating CTO and CCO positions, marking CEO Elliott Hill's continued restructuring to flatten the organization and accelerate decision-making in response to competitive pressures.
The Hill Effect Takes Hold
Nike announced another wave of senior leadership changes on Monday, creating a new Chief Operating Officer role while eliminating both the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Commercial Officer positions. The moves represent the latest phase of CEO Elliott Hill's systematic overhaul of the company's executive structure since returning to Nike in October 2024.
Venkatesh Alagirisamy, a nearly 20-year Nike veteran currently serving as Chief Supply Chain Officer, will become Executive Vice President and COO on December 8th. His expanded role combines technology oversight with his existing responsibilities for supply chain, operations, manufacturing, and sustainability. The consolidation eliminates two C-suite positions, sending Chief Technology Officer Dr. Muge Dogan and Chief Commercial Officer Craig Williams out of the company.
Hill's latest restructuring reflects a clear philosophy: flatten the organization to accelerate decision-making and strengthen connections between corporate strategy and marketplace reality. The elimination of the CCO and CTO roles isn't just cost-cutting—it's architectural redesign aimed at breaking down silos that may have slowed Nike's response to competitive pressures.
By consolidating technology under Alagirisamy's operations umbrella, Nike signals that tech infrastructure should serve operational efficiency rather than existing as a separate strategic pillar. This integration approach could enable faster implementation of digital tools across the supply chain and retail operations, areas where Nike has faced criticism for lacking agility compared to newer competitors.
The company has installed new leaders for marketing, sports marketing, communications, and regional operations while cutting roughly 2% of its global workforce.
The pattern reveals Hill's preference for direct reporting relationships over consolidated power centers. Rather than having executives manage broad portfolios through layers of middle management, he's creating more specialized roles with clearer accountability lines. Amy Montagne was promoted to President of Nike, Nicole Graham elevated to Chief Marketing Officer, and four regional leaders now sit on the senior leadership team with direct CEO access.
Strategic Implications
Nike's leadership shakeup reflects broader challenges facing established athletic brands in a rapidly evolving market. Younger consumers increasingly favor emerging brands over legacy names, while direct-to-consumer retail models have disrupted traditional wholesale relationships. Hill's structural changes appear designed to address both challenges through faster product innovation and stronger marketplace connections.
The integration of technology under operations rather than maintaining it as a separate function suggests Nike views digital capabilities as enablers rather than differentiators. This operational approach could accelerate implementation of AI-driven design tools, supply chain optimization, and personalized customer experiences that competitors are already deploying effectively.
The Road Ahead
Hill's "Win Now" strategy depends on these organizational changes translating into market performance. The company faces pressure from athletic wear startups, challenges in key demographic segments, and competition from both traditional rivals and tech-enabled newcomers. The streamlined leadership structure should enable faster decision-making, but success ultimately depends on product innovation and brand resonance with consumers.
The timing of these changes—coming just over a year after Hill's return—suggests confidence in the strategic direction while acknowledging the urgency of Nike's competitive situation. By consolidating operations under proven internal leaders like Alagirisamy, Hill is betting on institutional knowledge combined with structural efficiency rather than external expertise or radical strategic pivots.
For employees and industry observers, these moves signal that Hill's transformation of Nike is far from complete. The systematic replacement of leadership, elimination of redundant roles, and emphasis on operational integration suggests more changes may follow as the company works to regain momentum in a challenging market environment. Whether this approach can restore Nike's cultural dominance remains the ultimate test of Hill's leadership philosophy.
