Fanatics has hired Nike VP/Corporate Audit and Chief Risk Officer MICHENER CHANDLEE as its CFO. Chandlee, who has been with Nike for 18 years, will start Monday, be based in Silicon Valley and report to Fanatics CEO DOUG MACK. Chandlee will oversee business and financial planning, accounting, investor relations, purchasing, tax, treasury and divisional finance. Chandlee is replacing LAUREN COOKS LEVITAN, who had been at Fanatics for four years and is joining S.F.-based retail startup Faire as CFO (Terry Lefton, THE DAILY). CNBC.com's Lauren Thomas noted Chandlee’s hiring "comes as Fanatics is targeting sales" of more than $2.5B this year, up from $2.2B in '18. The company is also "bulking up with acquisitions of competitors including FansEdge and Majestic, and is taking a stake in hats retailer Lids." Its business has been "described by analysts as somewhat 'Amazon-proof' because it has so many exclusive deals with leagues and teams" (CNBC.com, 9/17). WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY's Jean E. Palmieri noted Fanatics in '20 will "begin manufacturing and distributing all Nike and MLB gear across all retail channels" (WWD.com, 9/17).
