Nike is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. From sports apparel to shoes, it seems like you can’t go anywhere without seeing a Nike logo.
But is Nike black owned? Nike is not black owned. Nike’s founding family, the Knight Family, is not African-American and its CEO is also white.
Although there are no African American members on Nike’s board today, some hope that this will change soon as more people speak out for equal representation within companies.
Hampson Knight( co-founder) stepped down from his position as chairman of Nike and handed over the role to company veteran Mark Parker, and hence Nike is not black-owned.
COMPANY OWNERSHIP
The Nike company is an athletic goods and shoe retailer based in the United States. The headquarters is in Beaverton, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. It took its name from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
The logo shows a winged figure and the words ‘Just do it.’ Philip Hampson Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire businessman. He is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of NIKE and was previously chairman and CEO of the company.
Knight owns 48 percent of the company, and his family owns 16 percent.
In 1964 Knight co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports in partnership with Bill Bowerman. In 1971, BRS sole proprietor Knight became chairman and CEO of the fledgling business, which eventually grew into Nike Inc., one of the world’s largest sporting goods companies.
In 2006, Knight announced that he would step down as Nike’s chief executive officer when the board appointed Knight’s choice, William Perez, to fill the position.
OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY
Nike is a major sportswear and equipment supplier based in America, but it has its headquarters in the Netherlands. It was set up by former University of Oregon runner Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman in January 1964.
The name Nike comes from the Greek goddess of victory. Nike has sponsored some of the world’s top athletes, including tennis player Roger Federer and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
As of 2008, it has 38 separate subsidiaries that produce or distribute goods in over 160 countries around the world. Nike is particularly famous for its sports shoes, but it also provides clothing and equipment for other sports such as American football, baseball and golf.
In addition to its clothing, Nike has also produced film and music videos.
HISTORY OF NIKE
Nike began in 1964 when University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman started experimenting with rubber compounds in his garage. Working with Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger Co., Bowerman developed a shoe with a unique sole made of rose-colored, rubber.
He named the new model “Nike,” after the Greek Goddess for victory. In 1971, Blue Ribbon Sports was formed as a partnership between Bill’s former track coach and Onitsuka Tiger Co. As the U.S. distributor for Onitsuka Tiger shoes, Blue Ribbon Sports imported the sneakers to the U.S. and marketed them with Chuck Taylor (of shoe fame) as an endorser.
Nike’s sales skyrocketed, and in 1972 the company instituted one of the most important marketing moves in corporate history by coining the slogan “Just Do It.” By 1979, the company had captured 70 percent of all U.S. athletic footwear sales and was looking worldwide for new business opportunities.
CONCLUSION
Nike, headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development and worldwide marketing and selling of footwear.
It is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories with a global revenue of more than $18 billion in fiscal year 2012.
Nike sells its products under its own brand, as well as Nike Golf, Nike Pro, Nike+, Air Jordan, Nikes on Fire etc and is very popular world wide.
