Irvine-based Mitchell & Ness has appointed former Nike executive Eli Kumekpor as the apparel firm’s newest chief executive officer.
Kumekpor previously worked at Nike as global vice president and general manager of the Jordan brand division since 2019. He has also held leadership positions in the healthcare industry, at companies such as AstraZeneca, Alcon and Cigna, and worked as a financial analyst in the first several years of his career.
The company’s former CEO Kevin Wulff will retire Sept. 1 after entering the top role in 2016.
The vintage sports apparel retailer was acquired by Jacksonville-based Fanatics and other celebrity and high-profile investors in 2022 and has since grown its network of sports associations – Mitchell & Ness added a licensing deal with the National Hockey League (NHL) and expanded its catalogue with Major League Baseball (MLB).
“Eli will be focused on combining Mitchell & Ness’ momentum as a leading provider of high-quality vintage and lifestyle sports apparel, with the power of the larger Fanatics platform and network, creating new avenues for significant growth for the brand,” Joe Bozich, CEO of Fanatic’s merchandising division, said in a statement.
