Known worldwide as a name behind activewear and shoes, athletic gear manufacturer Nike is proving it’s much more than a fresh pair of kicks. The company is expanding its presence that already spans over 40 countries with a new technology center in the Peach State.
Its new office will be located in West Midtown, Nike’s global CIDO Ratnakar Lavu announced via LinkedIn on Thursday. The facility will encompass three newly-launched centers spanning logistics and supply chain, cybersecurity and AI and machine learning. This allows Nike to focus on its digital-first supply chain strategy, establishing an East Coast cybersecurity command center and advancing its customer experiences with automation capabilities.
Atlanta continues to be an attractive location for tech companies of all sizes due to its exhaustless abundance of local talent. Lavu said the city’s skilled and diverse tech talent base, as well as its connection to sports, made it the ideal choice for Nike’s latest technology center.
“I joined Nike three years ago because of the company’s relentless commitment to redefining the future of sport and consumer experiences. As I’ve seen firsthand, technology is at the center of our digital transformation and direct-to-consumer strategy. And, we have been growing the Global Technology organization to support our aspirations,” Lavu continued.
The new Atlanta location will be led by Mona-Lisa Pinkney, who has more than two decades of experience with the cybersecurity and technology industries. She also serves as a co-founder of Nike’s Black Employees in Technology Network.
Nike’s new real estate in Midtown will offer employees access to local restaurants, retail shops, fitness centers and art galleries. The office is projected to open in early 2023, and Nike’s workforce will be remote in the meantime.
The company currently lists a handful of Atlanta-based positions on its careers page spanning engineering, management, administration and more.
