Nike on Tuesday named Jared Carver as Converse’s new president and CEO, effective June 1.
He steps into the top spot after four years as vice president and general manager of Converse’s North America business, according to a corporate announcement. He will report to Nike CEO John Donahoe and replaces Scott Uzzell, who will become vice president and general manager for Nike’s North American business.
Carver’s appointment comes less than a week after several executive changes across the Nike business.
As a result of those changes, Heidi O’Neill, president of consumer and marketplace, is now president of consumer, product and brand; Craig Williams, president of Jordan Brand, is now president of geographies and marketplace; and Chief Financial Officer Matthew Friend now has expanded responsibilities including procurement, demand and supply management, and global places and services.
Sarah Mensah will take over for Williams in leading Jordan. Nike also said last week that Chief Operating Officer Andy Campion will take on a position as managing director of strategic business ventures, which includes leading Nike Virtual Studios. Finally, Michael Spillane, Nike’s president of consumer creation, will retire this year, the company said.
Nike’s revenues for its most recent quarter, which ended Feb. 28, rose 14% to $12.4 billion compared to the prior year, with gains across its portfolio.
“Consumer demand for our portfolio of brands remains uniquely strong, fueling unit growth of approximately 10% despite increased macro uncertainty,” Friend said in a Q3 earnings call in March. “Nike, Jordan and Converse all drove double-digit currency-neutral growth this quarter.”
On the same call, Donahoe said Nike’s “basketball category is in the strongest position it's ever been” and that “across Nike Basketball, Jordan Brand and Converse, we've strengthened our signature athlete portfolio, adding Gen Z superstars while still being anchored by some of the game's greatest players.”
Nike’s wave of leadership changes began in March.
That month, Nike named Amy Montagne head of its women’s business. Montagne had been vice president of Asia Pacific and Latin America. Montagne replaced Whitney Malkiel, who left the company. Also that month, James Loduca joined the company as the new diversity chief. Cathy Sparks, who was vice president of Nike Direct and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, was named vice president and general manager of Asia Pacific and Latin America.
All of the personnel changes are in support of Nike’s consumer direct acceleration strategy. Introduced in 2020, the strategy was created to develop “a more premium, consistent and seamless” digital, direct-to-consumer and wholesale experience.
