Nike laying off more technology workers

Nike

this week began laying off more workers in its technology division. The number of jobs eliminated is unclear.

An internal email sent on Monday to Nike technology employees in North America and India asked them to work from home this week while the layoffs and other changes were announced. The email indicated “some roles will change, and others will be eliminated” but the “majority of roles will remain the same.”

The layoffs come as

first-year CEO Elliott Hill

tries to

reverse a decline in sales

and

refocus the company around sports

.

Last year, Nike

laid off 740 workers in Oregon

as part of a

companywide reorganization

. It also

laid off some technology workers

last month.

A Nike spokesperson confirmed this week’s layoffs in an email and said the company is “reducing layers and strengthening engineering capabilities.”

“We remain committed to investing in the areas that drive the most impact for Nike – including consumer-facing experiences, marketplace and Nike direct digital, and digital product innovation,” the spokesperson said.

Nike’s technology division has experienced more turmoil than other parts of the company in recent years.

In February 2023, Ratnakar Lavu, the company’s top technology executive,

resigned suddenly

after a period where

morale noticeably declined

. A

recent lawsuit claims

Lavu “purportedly engaged in corruption, including kickbacks to external vendors and other misconduct that prompted an SEC investigation.” Lavu has not spoken publicly since leaving Nike.

In November 2023, Nike

named Muge Erdirik Dogan

its top technology executive.

Since Hill started work in October, Nike has named new heads of numerous departments, including

legal, sports marketing

,

human resources

,

communications

and

innovation

as he works to refocus the business around sports.

Nike’s fiscal year ended on May 31. It will report quarterly and annual earnings on June 26.

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