Nike promotes to appoint compliance head

Nike promotes to appoint compliance head

Hilary Krane, who is set to retire in February 2022 after 12 years, will be succeeded by Ann Miller

Long time Nike in-house lawyer Ann Miller has been appointed as executive vice president and general counsel, taking over from veteran attorney Hilary Krane, who will step down in February 2022.

Having led the legal department at the Beaverton, Oregon-based company for nearly 12 years, Krane announced her resignation. She joined Levi Strauss in 2009 and at one time served as the sports brand's executive vice president and general counsel, as well as a chief administrative officer.

As a company lawyer at Nike, Miller's experience spans more than a decade, including seven years as vice president of corporate affairs, corporate secretary, and chief ethics and compliance officer. A statement from Nike says she joined the company as in-house counsel in 2007 and became vice president and general counsel of Nike subsidiary brand, Converse in 2012.

Before joining Nike, Miller oversaw legal support for Nike's supply chain, as well as overseeing the company's corporate governance and external reporting efforts. As part of her duties as Vice President of Global Ethics & Compliance, she oversees things such as privacy, digital products and technology.

Having started her legal career with Sullivan & Cromwell in 1999, Miller later joined Paul Hastings in 2005 as a senior associate.

According to Nike President and CEO John Donahoe, Ann has been a leading figure at Nike for more than 14 years and has contributed substantially to the company to enhance our position as the leading sports brand in the world.

According to Donahoe, Miller was uniquely qualified to be a leader in the company because of her "combination of legal and business expertise," as well as her executive leadership strengths.

In August, Nike appointed Samuel Aintablian II as assistant general counsel for sports marketing, who previously served as associate counsel for the Minnesota Vikings. Jeremy Abrams from Reed Smith has also been hired by the company as director of controversy and policy in June 2021.