Nike promoted several members of its organization to vice president roles last week. In the Asia Pacific region, where Nike generated double-digit sales growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, Nike named three new vice presidents: Willem Haitink was promoted to vice president and general manager for Nike China from his previous role of general manager for Nike China and Hong Kong; Jim Godbout was promoted to vice president and general manager for Nike Japan from his earlier positions as general manager of Nike Japan; and Davide Grasso was promoted to vice president for Asia Pacific marketing from his earlier status as Asia Pacific director of marketing. All three of the new VP’s will report to Roland Wolfram, vice president of the Asia Pacific region.

In global sports marketing, John Slusher was named vice president of sports marketing for both Asia Pacific and the Americas. In the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, DeeDee Wilson has been named vice president of finance and chief financial officer.

The new positions in the Asia Pacific region will work to further strengthen Nike's position in the market, led by China, the company's fastest-growing market, which saw sales double in the past two years to more than $600 million. By the fiscal year '09, China revenues are expected to surpass the $1 billion dollar mark, which would make it the second largest country market for Nike.