Trevor Edwards, a former Nike executive, is now on the board of Fanatics. Edwards was the president of Nike Inc. from 2013 to March 2018.
He resigned after an internal investigation into workplace misconduct and a review of the company’s human resources practices, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Nike stated, “there were no misconduct allegations against Edwards”. His departure was part of a series of executive exits, and Nike later acknowledged it had fallen short in promoting women and people of color.
Before becoming president, Edwards held various leadership roles at Nike, including executive vice president of global category and brand management, corporate vice president and chief marketing officer, and vice president of Nike USA brand management. He also served as vice president of marketing for Nike in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In addition to his new role at Fanatics, Edwards is a director at Funko Inc., a collectables and toy company, as well as VF Corp.
Fanatics selected Edwards for his extensive knowledge of the sports industry and direct-to-consumer channels, as well as his proven ability to grow brands and expand market share internationally.
“I couldn’t think of a better person to join our board right now than Trevor Edwards,” said Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of Fanatics. “Trevor has incredible experience in building brands and expanding businesses globally, while never losing focus on the importance of the fan experience.”
“I am thrilled to join the Fanatics Board at this transformative time,”
Edwards said. “Michael and the Fanatics team have a compelling vision to reshape the landscape by innovating the fan experience and better serving fans around the world, and I am excited to be a part of this journey.”
Edwards’ addition comes as Fanatics expands beyond its core business of selling officially licensed merchandise. While that remains its largest segment, the company is also venturing into trading cards, sports memorabilia, sports betting, and events. Although Fanatics had considered a potential initial public offering a few years ago, that move is currently not a priority. The company was valued at $31 billion after its latest funding round.
