Nike Struggles to Improve Female and Minority Representation
White males dominate senior-level positions at Nike. It's a situation that the brand's higher-ups are attempting to address, but according to a leaked memo sent by brand HR chief Monique Matheson, it's not going well.
'While we've spoken about this many times, and tried different ways to achieve change, we have failed to gain traction – and our hiring and promotion decisions are not changing senior-level representation as quickly as we have wanted,' the memo states.
In order to spark change, Nike will improve representation of women and minorities at the vice president level with the hope of a trickle-down effect.
Men account for 71 per cent of all vice president positions. Only 16 per cent of all VP positions Stateside are occupied by minorities. A significant pay gap between also exists, which Nike attribute to fewer females working in higher-level and thus higher paying positions.