The move follows Nike’s acquisition of football sportswear brand Umbro earlier this year. “I grew up a couple of miles away from their factories,” said Parkinson. “I would never have dreamed I would still be with Nike and be in Manchester. It’s really early days, but it’s a big play by Nike in the football market to gain additional share. Umbro has a lot of latent potential as it’s authentic and known.”
Parkinson departs after over two years in the Nike Southeast Asia role and six years with the brand in total.
His replacement at Nike is expected to be announced by early June. During Parkinson’s tenure with Nike Southeast Asia, he led the brand’s increasing association with Asian football, along with initiatives with Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and the Philippine Basketball Association.