The Week in PR

Mark Parker, CEO, Nike

Just Do It...A Few Weeks Later: An update to last week’s Nike story (PRN, May 1). As we told you, the story of 6 senior male executives--including the heir apparent to CEO Mark Parker--leaving abruptly and without much explanation was fodder for sports and athletic apparel trades for weeks. Once the mass media (namely the NY Times) expanded the story by exposing Nike’s culture as one where women were harassed routinely and prevented from advancing in their careers, Nike seems to have taken more notice. The Times’ story (April 28) also told of an informal survey of female employees that landed on Parker’s desk March 5. That’s when male heads began to roll.

...Just Starting to Do It: Last week we learned two women replaced some of the departed men. Two weeks ago Nike promoted Amy Montagne to VP/GM, global categories; Kellie Leonard last week was named chief diversity and inclusion officer and the position was elevated to C-suite status. The latest peace offering was Parker’s May 3 speech to employees. Once again, Nike’s actions were less than transparent, with employees reportedly receiving an email May 3 summoning them to a town hall that day, though the subject of the meeting was not revealed to them. We say reportedly because again Nike did this behind closed doors.