Nike named Coca-Cola Senior VP CRAIG WILLIAMS President of Jordan Brand, effective Jan. 14.Current Jordan Brand President LARRY MILLER will transition to Chair of the newly created Jordan Brand Advisory Board. Williams also ran Coca-Cola's relationship with McDonald's on a global basis (Nike). In Portland, Andy Giegerich noted Miller has "served in the president's role" since '12, after returning to Nike after six years as the Trail Blazers President. Williams also "spent time in key positions" at Kraft (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/13).
JUMPMAN BRAND: BLOOMBERG NEWS' Eben Novy-Williams noted Williams will "oversee a division where sales dropped" almost 8% to $2.86B during FY '18. Nike CFO ANDY CAMPION last month said that despite the drop, Jordan sales "grew in the previous quarter in China, Europe and the Middle East." Novy-Williams noted the company "views it as a growth opportunity in North America." Nike is "pushing to extend the brand ... beyond basketball." Some college football teams like Michigan and North Carolina that are sponsored by Nike "wear the Jumpman logo instead of the Nike swoosh." Jordan Brand also "recently partnered" with Ligue 1 club Paris St-Germain, the brand's "first foray into the world's most popular sport." Jordan Brand is also "expanding its offerings for women" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/13).
