Mark Parker will be replaced in early 2020 by John Donahoe, former boss of eBay.
Mark Parker ensures that his departure "Has absolutely nothing to do" with the controversy Salazar, this doping case that splashes, and the group, for almost a month. The CEO of Nike announced Tuesday, October 22, he would leave his post in January 2020, after fourteen years at the helm of the company in Beaverton (Oregon). He will be replaced by John Donahoe, former boss of eBay, who has been on the board of Nike since 2014.
In fact, the comma mark gives way to the injunctions of the American Anti-Doping Agency (Usada). Following the four-year suspension of American coach Alberto Salazar for instigating doping conduct, the group announced that it would stop funding its Nike Oregon Project (NOP) training camp. But this decision was not enough to mollify Travis Tygart, boss of Usada.
"No longer the right to find excuses"
After six years of investigation, Usada has uncovered "Organization" Mr. Salazar and his "Incentives for prohibited doping conduct" : too much amino acid injection, which destroys fat, testosterone gel application on his own son … The agency also revealed several emails showing that in 2011, Mr. Parker was aware of the progress of research of the NOP and that in 2009 he had invited a doctor from the project to "Determine the minimum amount of male hormone required to trigger a positive test".
Since then, the number one Nike denies any incentive to doping and explains that the group wanted to avoid his athletes to be tested positive following the application of a "Testosterone gel without their knowledge". A line of defense mocked by the Usada. His boss had estimated in October that Nike "No longer had the right to find excuses" and made him react. It's done. The US group, which, under the leadership of Mr. Parker, has recorded strong growth to reach 39.1 billion dollars (35 billion euros) in revenue in 2018, has announced that he will remain Executive Chairman of its board of directors alongside Philip Knight, its founder.
