Nike Installs Former Foot Locker Supply Chain Chief as Converse COO

by · WWD
Kristin Bauer spent three years as Foot Locker's supply chain chief.Courtesy of Nike

As Converse‘s new operations head, Kristin Bauer has a formidable challenge ahead of her.

A Nike Inc. spokesperson on Saturday confirmed Bauer’s appointment as chief operations officer at the brand. The executive, Foot Locker’s former chief supply chain officer, will begin work at Converse, which has been struggling, on Sept. 14.

Bloomberg first reported the news, citing an internal memo signed by Converse CEO Aaron Cain. The memo noted that Bauer will report to Venky Alagirisamy, Nike’s chief operating officer.

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Before her three-year stint at Foot Locker, now owned by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bauer spent time in numerous other supply chain and logistic roles at companies including TJX Cos. and Ulta Beauty.

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Her new appointment comes as the industry conversation around Converse‘s future heats up.

Following Nike’s fourth quarter report in late June, some analysts were pushing the Swoosh to pursue a divestiture.

“Converse had a terrible quarter with revenue down by 32 percent. This is nothing short of a disaster and it raises the question of whether Nike actually has the bandwidth and will to fix the brand,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said at the time. “If it doesn’t, it should look for an exit strategy to save Converse from becoming a drain on resources and management time.”

For the full year, the brand’s revenues were $1.2 billion, down 31 percent on a reported basis and down 32 percent on a currency-neutral basis, also due to declines across all territories.

Nike Inc. President and CEO Elliott Hill intimated that Converse was not for sale in the company’s third quarter conference call in April, telling investors it remained an important part of Nike’s long-term portfolio.

This is Nike’s second major executive move this week. On Thursday, Hill announced in a note to employees that the company hired Walmart alum Jane Ewing as executive vice president and chief commercial officer, effective Sept. 7. Nike initially eliminated that role eight months ago.