8.30.2006 - 08:45am ET

(CSRwire) BEAVERTON, Ore. (29 August, 2006) - NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today announced that Donna DeBerry is joining the company as its first Vice President of Diversity. In this newly created role, DeBerry will help to further integrate diversity into Nike's global business strategies and employer of choice practices. Establishing a senior corporate-level leadership position underscores Nike's strong belief that diversity creates competitive advantage, both in attracting, developing and leveraging diverse talent inside the company as well as in building strong brand relationships with diverse consumers worldwide.

"We're extremely excited to have Donna joining Nike in this new leadership role," said Nike, Inc. CEO Mark Parker. "Diversity is a competitive and comparative growth opportunity for us. Innovation is a core driver of Nike's growth. The best innovation comes from inclusive work environments that foster diverse ideas, nurture people with diverse talent and backgrounds, and create strong relationships with diverse communities. We look forward to Donna working with our teams globally to further integrate diversity into how we work and how we drive growth."

DeBerry brings a wealth of diversity management experience to the role. Most recently, she was Chief Executive Officer and Founder of DRP International, a diversity and event management consultancy. She has worked with the Oprah Winfrey Show and on many other high-profile projects. Prior to founding DRP International, DeBerry was Executive Vice President of Global Diversity and Corporate Affairs at Wyndham International Inc., one of the world's largest publicly traded hospitality companies. In that role, DeBerry was the highest-ranking African American in the hotel and hospitality industry. DeBerry also has worked with the National Football League and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

"Diversity is a powerful strategic tool for companies, today more than ever," DeBerry said. "It is the cornerstone in driving creativity and innovation. I'm truly honored to be joining Nike and to be part of a global organization and brand that already has such strong connections to diverse consumers and communities around the world. Nike is committed to enriching the lives of its employees, business partners, consumers and communities, and I am excited to be a part of the driving team."

DeBerry has served on numerous boards, including the National Hispanic Corporate Council, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers. She currently is serving on the advisory council of eWomen Network Foundation. She also has been profiled in a wide range of media and has been a featured speaker on diversity issues at numerous conferences and events. Donna attended California State University, Hayward.

About NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; NIKE Bauer Hockey Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan, a leading designer and marketer of luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and Exeter Brands Group LLC, which designs and markets athletic footwear and apparel for the value retail channel.

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