Published on: June 29, 2026
Nike has named David M. Denton as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, with his appointment taking effect on August 17, 2026, marking a key leadership change within the company’s finance division.
Denton will take over from Matthew Friend, who will step down from the CFO role on the same day. Friend will remain with the company until September 4 to facilitate a smooth transition and will also participate in Nike’s fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter earnings call scheduled for June 30.
As CFO, Denton will oversee Nike’s global finance operations and collaborate closely with President and CEO Elliott Hill and the executive leadership team on financial strategy, capital allocation and long-term business growth.
Denton joins Nike from Pfizer, where he has been serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2022. He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across finance, operations and strategy in several multinational public companies.
Prior to Pfizer, he was Executive Vice President and CFO at Lowe’s Companies between 2018 and 2022, leading finance and strategic initiatives during a significant transformation phase. Earlier in his career, Denton spent nearly two decades at CVS Health, including serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, where he played an important role in expanding the company’s healthcare business.
His board experience includes serving on the boards of Tapestry from 2014 to 2023 and Haleon from 2023 to 2024. He is also expected to join the board of Honeywell Aerospace following its planned separation from Honeywell.
Speaking on the appointment, Elliott Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer, NIKE, Inc., said, “Dave is a proven public-company CFO who knows how to help great consumer brands operate with discipline and invest to win. We’re focused on doing what Nike does best: serving athletes, leading with sport and building the most innovative products in the world. Dave’s experience, judgment, and operating rigor will help us execute against these priorities with consistency and build on the progress underway.”
Commenting on his new role, David Denton said, “Nike is one of the world’s great brands, with extraordinary strengths in sport, innovation, and global scale. I’m excited to partner with Elliott and the leadership team to support the company’s priorities, invest with discipline, and help deliver sustainable long-term value as Nike continues to lead with sport and serve athletes around the world.”
Hill also acknowledged the outgoing finance chief, stating, “This is a natural moment for a leadership transition as we move from foundational actions to sustained growth through our Sport Offense operating model. I’d like to thank Matt for his many contributions to Nike over the years. He has dedicated a significant part of his career to this company and has been a valued colleague and partner to many across Nike. We are grateful for his service, appreciate his commitment to ensuring a seamless transition, and wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
