Trevor Edwards, the Nike Inc. brand president, resigned Thursday, the same day CEO Mark Parker told employees that the company got complaints about inappropriate workplace behavior and was revamping its leadership team.
On Friday, a second veteran Nike executive left — forced out, the Wall Street Journal reported — after internal complaints about inappropriate workplace behavior at the sneaker and sportswear giant, according to people familiar with the matter.
Jayme Martin, a vice president who is one of Edwards’ lieutenants, quit. The company gave no official explanation.
Nike received complaints about Martin but no direct complaints about Edwards, one person told WSJ. Martin and Edwards protected male subordinates who engaged in behavior that was demeaning to female colleagues, according to another person.
“Over the past few weeks, we’ve become aware of reports of behavior occurring
within our organization that do not reflect our core values of inclusivity, respect and
empowerment at a time when we are accelerating our transition to the next stage of
growth and advancing our culture,” Parker wrote in an internal memo published by Fast Company.
From Wall Street Journal. Story by Sara Germano and Joann S. Lublin.
Martin has already left the company, while Edwards will remain on the payroll as a consultant and retire as a Nike employee in August. Both men spent decades at the company and climbed its leadership ranks.
Martin and Edwards protected male subordinates who engaged in behavior that was demeaning to female colleagues, according to another person. Their lieutenants bullied people who weren’t in their group, this person said, such as women and individuals from foreign countries.
The departures mark the latest fallout from a wave of misconduct allegations against high-profile executives, including former Wynn Resorts Ltd. chairman and CEO Steve Wynn and senior Ford Motor Co. executive Raj Nair. Last month, Nike rival Lululemon Athletica Inc. said its CEO Laurent Potdevin was leaving the company for unspecified inappropriate behavior.
Read more at Wall Street Journal.
