Nike Cuts Corporate Staff in Shift to Sport-Based Teams

Nike is cutting roughly 1% of its corporate workforce in a move to fix how its teams work, according to a report from CNBC. The cuts are part of CEO Elliott Hill’s plan to focus the business back on sports and athletes, reversing the strategy of former leadership.

Key Facts

• Scope: The layoffs affect less than 1% of corporate staff.
• Exclusions: The Converse brand and the company’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) division are not involved.
• Timeline: Staff will learn their status by September 8.
• Source: CNBC, Retail Dive

The “Sport-Obsessed” Plan

CEO Elliott Hill is changing how Nike operates to spark growth. Under previous CEO John Donahoe, Nike divided its teams by “Men’s,” “Women’s,” and “Kids.” Hill is undoing that structure. He wants teams organized by specific sports to build better products faster.

“The moves we’re making are about setting ourselves up to win,” a company spokesperson said. The goal is to put “sport and sport culture back at the center” of the business. This shift aims to fix recent sales slumps and improve relationships with retailers.

Remote Work and Timeline

To handle the changes, Nike is asking corporate employees in the U.S. and Canada to work from home for one week. This “remote work” period gives management time to hold difficult conversations. Most employees will move into their new roles—or leave the company—by September 21.

Ongoing Cuts

This is the second round of job cuts for Nike recently. In February 2024, the company cut 2% of its workforce, which amounted to more than 1,600 jobs. At that time, leaders cited a need to save money as demand for sneakers slowed down. As of May 2025, Nike employed about 77,800 people globally.