From intern to CEO: Elliott Hill's Nike journey
Hard work goes a long way—take it from Elliott Hill, Nike's new chief executive officer who started his roots as an intern in the company.
The footwear company announced that Hill is slated to become the next president and CEO of Nike, Inc. on Oct. 14 after current head John Donahoe. He will also helm its Board of Directors and become a member of the Executive Committee.
"NIKE has always been a core part of who I am, and I’m ready to help lead it to an even brighter future. For 32 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with the best in the industry, helping to shape our company into the magical place it is today," said Elliott Hill in a release on the company's website.
"I’m eager to reconnect with the many employees and trusted partners I’ve worked with over the years, and just as excited to build new, impactful relationships that will move us ahead," he added.
According to Hill, he has set his mind on "delivering bold, innovative products that set [Nike] apart in the marketplace and captivate consumers for years to come."
Climbing up the ladder
According to his LinkedIn profile, Hill graduated with a degree in Kinesiology before achieving a Master's in Sports Administration in 1987. He kickstarted his career the following year when he became an intern at Nike and held that position until 1990, when he was finally hired to work in Sports Graphics Sales.
This continued until he started working in Team Sales from 1991 to 1994. Because of his skills, it wasn't long until he was finally promoted to leadership roles, starting with Sales Management from 1996 to 1998.
After becoming Director of the Team Sports Division, he ascended to an international role for three years as Vice President of EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Sales and Retail before focusing on the US market beginning in 2003.
Hill continued to rise in the ranks until he became president of Geographies & Sales in 2013. From that point on, he took on more senior positions as president of Geographies & Integrated Marketplace until 2018 and president of Consumer & Marketplace until 2020.
During this time, Hill had the responsibility of "running the largest brands in the sports industry" and managed to help Nike achieve $39 billion (P2.1 trillion) in profits.
He described himself as an "experienced leader with a strong entrepreneurial drive, deep connections with consumers and a strong passion for the portfolio of NIKE, Inc. brands and the world of sport."
Despite his colorful career, he appeared to briefly put an end to all of this during the COVID-19 era, opting to be self-employed and serve as a board member for various companies such as Weber-Stephen Products LLC, Texas Christian University, Culligan International, and more.
That was until Nike decided to welcome him back as its new CEO.
"The Board concluded it was clear Elliott’s global expertise, leadership style, and deep understanding of our industry and partners, paired with his passion for sport, our brands, products, consumers, athletes, and employees, make him the right person to lead Nike’s next stage of growth,” said Mark Parker, Executive Chairman of NIKE, Inc.
"Personally, I have worked with Elliott for more than 30 years and I look forward to supporting him and his senior management team as they seize the opportunities ahead," he added.
Praised for consistency
Following his promotion, the soon-to-be CEO caught the attention of the public for his consistency with the company, with many praising him for how he slowly but surely climbed up the corporate ladder until he reached the very top.
"Nike's new CEO Elliott Hill started as sales person in a Nike store. The way he climbed the ladder is inspiring. Winners don't complain, they either win or accept defeat," one user on X wrote.
"Imagine starting your career as an intern and working your way up to leading one of the world's biggest brands. Hard work, dedication, and a relentless focus on results can truly pay off in incredible ways," another user highlighted.
PhilSTAR L!fe previously spoke with human resources practitioner Elly, who opted not to use her real name, on how long should one stay within jobs. According to her, employees should value the time they invest in an organization.
"Regardless of the employment type, I would say that a year or two is quite enough to stay in a job before looking for another one if an employee wants career growth," she said.
Despite the temptation to constantly seek higher pay from other jobs, Elly recommends staying for a couple of years before setting your sights on other pastures.
"Although practicality is more important nowadays, we must also consider the work experiences that we'll acquire and its advantage to the next career we're looking for," she said.