Nike exec resigns over son’s business

A longtime top executive at Nike resigned amid questions about possible ties to her son’s sneaker resale business and whether he used a credit card in her name for the company.

Ann Hebert, vice president and general manager of Nike’s North America division, “departed” from the company Monday, Nike said.

In its statement, Nike said it would announce a replacement for her soon. Hebert, who had been with the company for more than 25 years, had made the decision to resign, the company said in an email.

Her resignation came a week after Bloomberg Businessweek published an article on the rise of West Coast Streetwear, a company that buys and resells limited editions of sneakers and clothing. Hebert could not immediately be reached for comment.

West Coast Streetwear is owned by Hebert’s son, Joe Hebert, 19, who buys large amounts of highly sought footwear, such as Yeezys and Jordans, for resale at higher prices. The purchases are completed using computer programs like Cybersole, which are designed to increase opportunities to buy limited edition apparel from hundreds of retail stores that often set purchase limits. The article said that at one point Joe Hebert and his team had spent $132,000 on hundreds of shoes and was able to resell them for a $20,000 profit.

The article also described a statement for an American Express corporate card that was in Ann Hebert’s name and shared with Bloomberg Businessweek to illustrate the resale company’s revenue.

In the article, Joe Hebert said his mother’s position at Nike was removed from his work and that she did not provide him with inside information.

Ann Hebert was promoted to her role as vice president and general manager of the company’s North America division in April, and she oversaw sales, marketing and merchandising, according to a statement.

A spokeswoman for Nike told Bloomberg Businessweek that Ann Hebert had shared information about West Coast Streetwear with the company in 2018 and Nike had advised that there was no violation of company policy.