INTERNATIONAL – Nike on Tuesday named former Coca-Cola executive Craig Williams as president of its sports shoes unit Jordan Brand.
Williams, who will take charge on Jan. 14, most recently headed the world’s biggest beverage maker’s partnership with fast-food chain McDonald’s.
He will replace Larry Miller who will become the chairman of the newly created Jordan Brand advisory board, Nike said.
Jordan Brand is a premium brand of footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the legacy of former basketball player Michael Jordan.
In other news, Nike has sold out 61 percent more merchandise since the controversial ad campaign featuring former NFL player Colin Kaepernick appeared earlier this month, according to data on the company’s online sales from Thomson Reuters Proprietary Research.
Nike discounted fewer products in the 10-day period after the ad and saw its Colin Kaepernick women’s jersey sell out on Sept. 17, the research also showed.
Shares in Nike have rebounded from an initial drop when the first versions of the ad were released, hitting a record high a little over a week later.