BEAVERTON, Ore. (14 December 2006) - NIKE, Inc. (NYSE: NKE) today announced four new vice presidents in corporate and brand roles. The promotions reflect the company's continued management strength and commitment to developing talent.
Dermott Cleary becomes vice president of sport culture and category marketing. Diana Crist is now global apparel vice president of merchandising operations. Larry Harper becomes vice president of US geographical business units. Bob Woodruff is now vice president and treasurer.
Cleary brings nearly 12 years of marketing experience at Nike to the sport culture and category marketing role, having started his career with the company as UK marketing director. He has held various marketing management roles, including director of brand initiatives for Europe, director of marketing for the Americas region and his most recent role of global brand director for sports culture. In that post he defined sport culture brand strategy. Prior to joining Nike, Cleary held various marketing positions at consumer products company SmithKline Beecham in the UK. He received a bachelor's degree in business studies from the City of London Polytechnic (now Guildhall University). Cleary reports to Vice President of Global Brand Management Joaquin Hidalgo.
As global apparel vice president for merchandising operations, Crist leads cross-region collaboration in product alignment and productivity. Crist joined Nike in 1990 and has held a number of positions in equipment, soccer and apparel. She was general manager for the Europe region's women's business from 2001 to 2003 and served as global apparel operations director from 2003 to 2006. Crist developed sports product experience at both Columbia Sportswear and REI Coop prior to coming to Nike. She received a bachelor's degree in art and master's in textiles from the University of Washington. Crist reports to Vice President of Global Apparel Roger Wyett.
Harper brings more than 25 years of sales experience to the role of vice president for Nike's U.S. Geographical Business Unit organization. He joined Nike in 1999 and has held various roles at the company, including national sales manager and general manager for Chicago and Los Angeles. Harper began his career with Procter & Gamble and has held sales management positions at other global brands including Polaroid, SC Johnson and Warner Brothers. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Miami University (Ohio) and a master of business administration from the University of Redlands. Harper reports to Craig Cheek, vice president and general manager of Nike's U.S. region.
Woodruff is elevated to vice president and treasurer, leading the treasury and risk management teams. He joined Nike in 1996 as director of global cash and banking, following finance positions at RJR Nabisco, The Pittston Company, Merrill Lynch and Citibank. Before becoming treasurer in 2005, he served as director of capital planning. Woodruff earned his bachelor's in economics from Iona College. He reports to Nike Chief Financial Officer Don Blair.
NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; NIKE Bauer Hockey Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan, which designs, markets, and distributes fine dress and casual shoes and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and Exeter Brands Group LLC, which designs and markets athletic footwear and apparel for the value retail channel.