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Business Maverick

Nike Executive Leaves Following Report About Son’s Business

Nike Inc. executive Ann Hebert abruptly left the company following a Bloomberg Businessweek report about her son operating a business reselling sneakers and using a credit card in her name.
Bloomberg
Nike Executive Leaves Following Report About Son’s Business Footwear is displayed for sale in a Nike Inc. store at the Lotte Shopping Plaza in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. (Photo: Maika Elan/Bloomberg)

Hebert, who served as vice president and general manager of North America, departed Monday, effective immediately, Nike said in a brief statement. She had been in the role since last June, overseeing Nike’s sales, marketing and merchandising in the region.

Read more: How sneakerheads turned Jordans and Yeezys into an asset class

The executive had spent more than 25 years with the Beaverton, Oregon-based company, which said it would announce a new leader for North America shortly.

Bloomberg Businessweek’s latest cover article explored the story of Joe Hebert, Ann’s son, a college dropout who makes a living as a sneaker reseller. Known to his customers as West Coast Joe, he started reselling streetwear in high school and now flips hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of shoes each month.

Ann Hebert didn’t reply to emailed questions for that report, but a Nike representative said the executive disclosed relevant information about her son’s business to Nike in 2018. The company said at the time that Hebert did not violate “company policy, privileged information or conflicts of interest.”

After Hebert’s departure, a spokesperson for Nike said the executive made the decision to resign. Hebert didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on LinkedIn.

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Angus Auchterlonie 4 March 2021 11:31 AM

Can you imagine if the same ethics were followed in our government? There would be nobody left!