Nike is making another significant change to its leadership structure as the sportswear giant continues to work through its ongoing business turnaround. The company has appointed Jane Ewing, a longtime Walmart executive, as its new Chief Commercial Officer, effective September 7, 2026.

The appointment was announced by Nike CEO Elliott Hill in an internal memo to employees. Ewing will report directly to Hill and join the company’s senior leadership team. Her appointment is notable because Nike had eliminated the Chief Commercial Officer position in December as part of an earlier leadership restructuring.

In her new position, Ewing will oversee Nike’s global marketplace operations, including both sales and Nike Direct. She will be responsible for bringing greater coordination across the company’s distribution channels and driving growth across wholesale and direct-to-consumer businesses.

Three senior executives will report to Ewing: Erica Bullard, Vice President of Global Sales; Shannon Glass, Vice President of Nike Direct; and Gail Cornelius, Vice President of Geographies and Marketplace Analytics.

A Retail Veteran Joins Nike’s Turnaround Effort

Ewing brings extensive experience from Walmart, where she spent 14 years working across merchandising, digital operations and international business. Most recently, she served as interim CEO of Sam’s Club China. Earlier in her career, she also led a major global division of beverage company Diageo PLC.

Her background in retail, international operations and digital commerce is expected to bring valuable expertise to Nike as the company seeks to strengthen its marketplace strategy and reconnect its product, brand and distribution operations.

Hill described Ewing’s position as an important component of Nike’s recovery strategy. He emphasized the need to build stronger relationships with retail partners, improve consumer experiences across both digital and physical channels and identify new opportunities for growth globally.

“This is an important part of our comeback,” Hill said in the memo announcing Ewing’s appointment.

Another Leadership Change Under Elliott Hill

Ewing’s arrival comes nearly two years after Elliott Hill returned from retirement to take over as Nike’s CEO, replacing John Donahoe. Since assuming the role, Hill has undertaken a series of leadership changes aimed at reshaping the company and putting the business back on a growth trajectory.

Earlier this month, David Denton joined Nike as Chief Financial Officer, replacing longtime company executive Matt Friend. Ewing’s appointment now represents another major addition to Hill’s leadership team.

The renewed focus on both wholesale and Nike Direct also signals a shift in Nike’s approach to distribution. Under former CEO John Donahoe, Nike placed significant emphasis on its direct-to-consumer strategy. In recent years, however, the company has scaled back some elements of that approach, including the closure of Nike Live stores in several markets.

With Ewing now responsible for both wholesale and direct channels, Nike appears to be pursuing a more balanced and integrated marketplace strategy.

Nike Faces a Challenging Road Ahead

The leadership changes come as Nike continues to deal with weak sales and broader challenges across several important markets.

Nike’s revenue declined 1% in its most recent quarter, while the company also lowered its outlook amid signs of slowing consumer demand that emerged in mid-April. Although some analysts have identified early indications that the business may be beginning to stabilize, others continue to view Nike’s recovery as a lengthy process.

A major priority for the company is rebuilding its wholesale business. Nike has been working to restore relationships with retail partners after years of prioritizing its direct-to-consumer model. At the same time, the company is reassessing the distribution strategy for some of its biggest footwear franchises.

Nike is also facing continued pressure in China and at its Converse brand. The company recently announced changes to its online distribution strategy in China, including plans to streamline its digital presence. New regional leadership was also introduced earlier this year.

Converse remains another major concern. The brand appointed Aaron Cain as CEO last year following the departure of Jared Carver. Converse revenue subsequently fell 32% in Nike’s most recent quarter, reigniting speculation among analysts about whether Nike could eventually consider selling the brand.

A New Phase for Nike’s Comeback

Jane Ewing’s appointment places a seasoned retail executive at the center of Nike’s efforts to rebuild its commercial engine. By bringing wholesale, direct sales and marketplace operations under a single leader, Nike is aiming to create a more connected approach to how its products reach consumers.

For Hill, the appointment is part of a broader effort to simplify the organization, strengthen retail partnerships and improve the consumer experience across channels.

Nike has made visible progress in several areas over the past year, but significant challenges remain. Ewing’s ability to align Nike’s wholesale and direct businesses could therefore become an important test of the company’s next phase of its turnaround.