Long before he was named CEO of NIKE, Inc., Mark Parker was leading the company in other ways. After running competitively at Penn State University, Parker joined Nike as one of our first footwear designers back in 1979. And he’s been at the center of Nike innovation ever since.
For more than 30 years, he’s brought innovative concepts and engineering expertise into such vital roles as Vice President of Consumer Product Marketing, Vice President of Global Footwear and Co-President of the Nike Brand. He’s led the way for Nike Air and a multitude of industry-breakthroughs in product design.
In addition to helping lead the continued growth of the Nike brand, Parker is responsible for the growth of NIKE, Inc.'s global business portfolio, which includes Cole Haan, Converse Inc., Hurley International LLC, and Umbro Ltd.
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t started with a handshake between two visionary Oregonians - Bowerman and his University of Oregon runner Phil Knight. They and the people they hired evolved and grew the company that became Nike from a U.S.-based footwear distributor to a global marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and equipment that is unrivaled in the world.