Nike is cutting 1,400 roles globally with most of the job losses concentrated in the technology teams. This is reportedly part of efforts to streamline operations, accelerate growth, and modernize the company’s internal systems while the company is facing slowing sales and rising competitive pressure.
The layoffs are part of Nike’s “Win Now” strategy, a multi-pronged plan aimed at reviving growth and sharpening operational efficiency. An internal memo from Chief Operating Officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy says that the restructuring will reshape the company’s technology function, modernize its Air manufacturing processes, and integrate materials sourcing more closely with its footwear and apparel supply chains.
There are also plans for the sport and athleisure giant to move certain Converse footwear operations, reflecting a broader effort to realign the business from top to bottom.
The memo says that this was not “a new direction.” Nike insists that layoffs are about positioning the company for the “current pace of sport,” a phrase that hints at the growing speed and complexity of the retail environment.
READ: Meta to lay off 8,000 employees in May, memo confirms (April 24, 2026)
Employees from Asia, North America, and Europe will be affected. Nike has been cutting down its workforce for a while, in phases. Earlier this year, the company announced 775 job cuts, primarily at its U.S. distribution centers, as it ramped up automation in logistics and fulfilment. There was also a smaller round of layoffs in summer.
Nike is also dealing with slowing sales. In its most recent quarterly earnings, the company warned that revenue could continue to decline through the year, with a particularly sharp drop expected in China — one of its key markets.
CEO Elliot Hill has been working to turn Nike around after years following years of declining sales. While there has been some initial progress, there have also been many bumps on the road. Hill, who became CEO in 2024, has pledged to refocus the Nike brand on core sports, such as running and soccer, while accelerating new product launches.
READ: Social media speculates Oracle layoffs may be linked to H-1B hiring trends (April 14, 2026)
Nike also plans to move some Converse manufacturing and engineering operations closer to factory partners.
“These changes are meant to make the company less complex and more responsive,” Alagirisamy said. “As we look ahead, that means simplifying parts of how we operate, using more advanced automation where it helps us work better, and building an even stronger end-to-end foundation for future growth.”
Nike is the latest among the various companies that conducted mass layoffs this year. Others like Oracle, Disney, and the Washington Post also laid off numerous employees.