OAN Staff Jenna Lee
4:57 PM – Friday, April 24, 2026
Nike announced that nearly 1,400 employees, less than 2% of its global workforce, will be laid off as part of a restructuring effort across its Global Operations team in North America, Europe, and Asia.
On Thursday, Nike’s Chief Operating Officer told employees in a memo that the layoffs are part of an effort to boost efficiency.
“Across the company, we have been taking deliberate steps to strengthen our foundation, sharpen how we compete, and build a model designed to deliver long-term profitable growth,” COO Venkatesh Alagirisamy stated. “Global operations is critical to that effort. Over the coming months, we will continue evolving global operations to better serve athletes and the business with more speed, simplicity, and precision,”
“Some of that work is happening now and more will continue over time as we align our teams, capabilities, and footprint to the future needs of the company,” Alagirisamy continued.
The two strategically important hubs—the company’s headquarters at the Nike World Headquarters and the Nike India Technology Center—will see increased investment, with changes including the consolidation of Nike’s technology equipment and a streamlined structure aimed at improving speed and focus.
“These changes are meant to make the company less complex and more responsive,” Alagirisamy stated. “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.”
Although shares increased by 0.5% in after-hours trading, Nike shared they lost over half their value in the past three years, as competitors like On, Hoka, and DECK.N, and Anta have all won shelf space.
In March, Nike reported that their net income in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 decreased to $520 million from $794 million in the year-age period, as well as diluted earnings per share dropping to 35 cents from 54 cents.
Since becoming CEO in 2024, Elliott Hill has vowed to reorient Nike toward its core sports focus and bring innovative footwear to market.
“This is not a new direction,” Alagirisamy said in the employee memo. “It is the next phase of the work already underway.”
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