Top Nike executive resigns amid workplace complaints: report

Nike’s brand president and No. 2 executive Trevor Edwards has resigned from the company amid an investigation of inappropriate workplace behavior, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

In a memo to staff from Chief Executive Mark Parker, the company said it had received complaints about “behavior occurring within our organization that do not reflect our core values of inclusivity, respect and empowerment,” and announced that Edwards would step down and retire from the company in August.

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Parker’s memo did not specifically say that any allegations were directed at Edwards, and a spokesman for Nike told the Journal that no allegations were made against Edwards, before refusing to go into details.

“We’ve heard from strong and courageous employees,” Parker wrote in the memo, but declined to discuss the nature of the allegations.

Parker went on to announce that he would remain the company’s chief executive through 2020, and said that he was conducting a review of how the company handled internal complaints of inappropriate behavior.

“This has been a very difficult time,” he wrote.

Private sector companies and top government officials alike have been under increased scrutiny for inappropriate behavior in the wake of the “Me Too” and “Time’s Up” movements against sexual assault and harassment, which gained national attention last year with the revelation of decades of allegations against famed movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

The resulting national focus on sexual misconduct has led to career-ending consequences for top figures across several spheres, including Minnesota Sen. Al Franken (D), the U.S. gymnastics team, Republican National Committee finance chairman Steve Wynn, and multiple members of the news and entertainment industries.