Nike executive John Slusher has transitioned into the Olympic realm, taking on the role of CEO for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, which manages the marketing efforts for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Slusher’s appointment was announced on Wednesday, marking a significant step in his career as he takes charge of a joint initiative between the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the LA Games. This venture is focused on areas such as sponsorship management, ticket sales, and hospitality arrangements for the event.

The organizers of the LA Olympics have ambitious plans, aiming to secure $2.5 billion in sponsorships. According to LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover, they are already making substantial progress, having reached roughly 65% of their sponsorship goal. Recent partnerships include agreements with Dick’s Sporting Goods as the official retail partner, Cisco as the network equipment supplier, and Cedars-Sinai, which will serve as the medical provider for the event.

The recent success of the Paris Games is believed to enhance the marketability of the Olympics, especially compared to the previous Tokyo Games, where the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee faced challenges with several marketing agreements expiring.

Slusher’s impressive career spans 26 years at Nike, where he served as the vice president of global sports marketing in his latter years. This comes at a time when Nike is experiencing its own shifts, with CEO John Donahoe resigning earlier this month amid declining sales and a decreasing stock price.