Nike President Resigns Amid Vague Investigation Into "Inappropriate Workplace Behavior"

The Wall Street Journal last night that Nike president Trevor Edwards had resigned after the company received complaints about “inappropriate workplace behavior.” What behavior? The Journal’s report does not specify what the complaints contained or who they were about, only that the No. 2 executive at Nike will leave the company quietly. Nike PR told the Journal that “there were no allegations against Edwards,” but declined to elaborate.

Parker acknowledged the complaints in a recent memo:

In an internal memo to staff announcing the departure, Mr. Parker disclosed that the company in recent weeks had received reports of “behavior occurring within our organization that do not reflect our core values of inclusivity, respect and empowerment.”

Edwards was the presumed successor to CEO Mark Parker, but now he will leave his post immediately and retire in August. As a result, Parker announced that he’ll stay on as CEO beyond 2020. ESPN also obtained the memo, in which Parker wrote that he was “determined to make the necessary changes so that our culture and our company can evolve and grow,” which include up a confidential hotline for Nike employees to report “if they felt threatened.”

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