Global sports giant Nike, Inc has announced that Cathleen Benko has been appointed to the company’s board of directors.

Benko is vice chairman and managing principal of Deloitte LLP, and has “guided several global businesses in driving transformational efforts critical to creating shareholder value” .

“Cathy’s proven leadership in advising the world’s most influential technology companies will be a tremendous benefit to Nike’s digital transformation,” said Mark Parker, chairman, president and CEO of Nike, Inc.

A former leader in Deloittes “Digital Giants” practice, Benko was appointed the company’s first global e-business leader and, subsequently, served as its technology sector leader. Benko went on to serve as chief talent officer and lead Deloitte’s award-winning women’s Initiative and broader inclusion focus

Benko’s focus on diversity and inclusivity will potentially be a boon to Nike, after former vice president of diversity and inclusivity, Antoine Andrews, stood down in April; just weeks after significant HR policy changes.

At the time, Nike conceded it had “failed” in promoting and hiring women and other minorities to senior-level positions within the business, and would renew its efforts to address this disparity.

“While we’ve spoken about this many times, and tried different ways to achieve change, we have failed to gain traction,” said Nike’s human resources chief Monique Matheson.

“Our hiring and promotion decisions are not changing senior-level representation as quickly as we have wanted.”

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