Nike names Noel Kinder chief sustainability officer, Hannah Jones head of business incubator

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Jul 4, 2018

Following a slew of leadership changes already in 2018, Nike Inc. said on Tuesday evening that Noel Kinder has been named the U.S. sportswear giant's new chief sustainability officer, effective September 5.

In the new role, Kinder will report to Eric Sprunk, Nike’s chief operating officer and Tom Clarke, president of advanced innovation. Official oversight will come from the corporate responsibility, sustainability and governance committee, under Nike's board, said the Portland, Oregon-based firm, in a statement.

Kinder, a 19-year Nike veteran, served most recently as vice president of sustainable manufacturing and sourcing. Prior to this, he was general manager of Nike's Vietnam operations, where he had oversaw the sports brand's entire manufacturing.

During his two decade Nike tenure, Kinder also held a wide range of leadership positions in Nike's footwear and apparel divisions, as well as roles in strategic planning and finance. Before Nike, the executive served in the Peace Corps, based in Honduras.

Kinder replaces Hannah Jones, a 20-year Nike veteran, who will remain at the company, and hand on the reigns to Kinder, after 14 years as CSO. 

Jones moves on as head of the Nike business incubator program, named president of Nike Valiant Labs (formerly Nike Innovation Accelerator). 

“We have made incredible progress over the last decade, and I’m excited to see Noel build on the leadership and change Hannah has helped define,” said Mark Parker, Nike Chairman, president and CEO.

“In this new area, Hannah will play an important role as we look to innovate and disrupt our own models in this next phase of our growth.”

The changes come as Nike hones in on technological advancements and testing of new products that will eventually create new revenues for Nike.

In Nike's most recent financial quarter, the Portland company said it returned to growth in North America, posting its first sales rise in the region in over a year. For the fourth quarter, sales in the North America rose 2.76 percent.

Full year 2017 sales gained 6 percent to reach $36.4 billion, prompting the company to set a $50 billion revenue target for 2020.