Sarah Mensah has made historical past as the primary girl to be named President of Jordan Model, studies Boardroom TV. As essentially the most profitable model below the Nike umbrella, the Jordan Model—based by NBA legend Michael Jordan in 1997—generated $5.2 billion in income in 2022.
Mensah will take the reins from former Jordan Model President Craig Williams who’s leaving to turn out to be president of Geographies & Market at Nike, Inc.
A veteran of each the NBA and sports activities attire industries, Mensah brings a wealth of expertise to her new place. At Nike, she served as Senior Director of Strategic Planning and VP, Normal Supervisor of Nike North America, main the long-lasting model to a decade of unprecedented development. She was the primary Black girl to carry each positions.
Earlier than her time at Nike, she labored with the Portland Path Blazers for 19 years in numerous capacities. As Government Vice President/Chief Working Officer she was chargeable for rising income by 105% and season ticket gross sales by 120% throughout her tenure.
In an interview with Footwear Information, Mensah spoke about being the primary Black girl to steer Nike and the model’s lengthy historical past with the Black neighborhood.
“It’s essential to me personally and to our athletes, our workers and our customers. We discuss lots about listening to them, and one of the best ways to hear is to mirror them,” mentioned Mensah. “I really feel an amazing quantity of accountability as a result of Nike means a lot to the Black neighborhood. To be the primary Black girl main this geography is an unbelievable mandate.”
She additionally spoke about how she dealt with the altering dynamics of the enterprise from operations and staffing in North America to provide chain points.
“It’s a problem day-after-day, the largeness of it. A part of the shock is that we’re navigating it,” she added. “The key sauce is an amazing quantity of empathy and communication.”
A graduate of the College of Oregon, Mensah holds levels in telecommunications and journalism.