Who was the CEO of Nike from 2006 to 2020?

Mark Parker was the CEO of Nike from 2006 to 2020. He became Nike’s third chief executive in 2006, succeeding William D. Perez, and led the company during a period of major global expansion.

Parker joined Nike in 1979 as a footwear designer after graduating from Penn State. He later held product and management roles, including co-president of the Nike brand, before taking over as CEO. His design background was unusual among major-company chief executives and helped keep product innovation central to Nike’s strategy.

During Parker’s tenure, Nike expanded its direct-to-consumer business, invested heavily in digital commerce, and continued building its global athlete partnerships. He also oversaw the company during high-profile moments involving Colin Kaepernick and sustainability initiatives.

Parker announced in 2019 that he would leave the CEO position effective January 13, 2020. John Donahoe succeeded him, while Parker became Nike’s executive chairman. Phil Knight, Nike’s co-founder, is a common mix-up, but he was not the CEO during this period; he served as chairman and remained the company’s best-known founder.