Pop quiz: What do Starbucks, Walt Disney and Under Armour have in common?
Answer: They are all US consumer brands that have brought back top executives to run the company. Nike joined the trend last week when it said Elliott Hill, a retired company veteran, was returning to become its new chief executive.
Hill will replace John Donahoe, a former Bain management consultant whose four-year tenure has left the sneaker giant facing its worst sales slowdown in decades. Nike is in need of someone who can bring some excitement both to a demoralised workforce and the brand. Hill, a beloved company figure who started out as an intern, is well placed to lead Nike’s turnaround.