Nike, Inc. President and CEO Elliott Hill continues to build out his central team, this week naming Michael Gonda, former communications chief of McDonald’s, as EVP and chief communications officer of Nike, Inc., effective July 7, 2025.
In this role, Gonda will lead Nike’s global communications organization, overseeing all facets of the company’s communications strategy, including corporate and brand communications, issues management, and employee engagement. As a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Gonda will report directly to Hill.
“Michael is a deeply strategic, emotionally intelligent, purpose-driven leader who understands the power of storytelling to move both brands and people,” said Hill in a company release. “His vision for driving impactful communications, his instinct for building high-performing teams, and his ability to form authentic connections will help Nike amplify the voice of sport and athletes around the world in bold and meaningful ways. I’m confident he’s the right leader for us as we put Nike back at the center of sport and our team is excited for the vision and leadership he brings.”
Gonda joins Nike from McDonald’s Corporation, where he held several senior leadership roles, including chief impact officer for North America, overseeing communications, public affairs, sustainability, community engagement, and philanthropy for McDonald’s largest markets, and as serving as global chief communications officer. During his tenure, he also served on several leadership bodies, including the company’s Global Senior Leadership Team.
“Nike has always been more than a brand — it’s a storyteller, a cultural force, and a catalyst for belief,” said Gonda. “I’m deeply honored to join a company that has shaped how people see themselves and the world around them, and am humbled to help Nike tell the stories that matter, connect even more deeply with athletes and communities, and write the next ambitious chapter with Elliott and this team.”
Before McDonald’s, Gonda held senior leadership roles at Chobani, the U.S. food company specializing in strained yogurt, and Weber Shandwick, a marketing communications firm.
Gonda earned a Bachelor’s degree in English with Honors from Brown University.
Images courtesy Nike, Inc.
