Philip Knight

At Sun Valley, a party for those who move the moguls

International Herald Tribune - Found Jul. 13, 2008
'We live for this,' said Don Bonta, the lead pilot and director of aviation for Nike, who flew Philip Knight, Nike's co-founder, to Sun Valley.

Posted on July 13, 2008, 11:11 am

Local residents named to state boards

Battle Creek Enquirer - Found 5 hours ago
Philip Knight of Marshall, president of Marshall Chiropractic Life Center, was appointed to the Michigan Board of Chiropractic to represent...

Posted on August 29, 2008, 11:48 am

Consumers warned on data loss compensation packs

ITProPortal.com - Found Aug. 3, 2008
Company director Philip Knight told the Daily Mail newspaper that 14,000 people had registered with it in relation to the pack.

Posted on August 3, 2008, 4:54 am

Olympic ads may sap strength

Louisville Courier-Journal - Found Jul. 27, 2008
Philip Knight, chairman. 2005 compensation: $3.5 million.

Posted on July 27, 2008, 4:54 am

University of York degree results - part 3

Yorkshire Evening Press - Found Jul. 12, 2008
Aleida Birgitta Geenen, Kayleigh Dawn Gilmore, Priyanka Kanth Devarakonda, Sarah Keenan, John Raymond Philip Knight, Sylvia Pui Khay Lau, Mi...

Posted on July 12, 2008, 7:09 am

Millwall edge out Bray in drab affair

Wicklow People - Found Jul. 27, 2008
Bray Wanderers 0, Millwall 1 Gabriel Sava (Brian Kane 59'), David Webster, Philip Knight, Ray Kenny, Shane O'Connor, Gareth Coughlan (Paul Dunphy 11'

Posted on July 27, 2008, 11:54 am

Three Traits of a Successful Woman

MyContentBuilder - Found Jul. 31, 2008
Philip Knight, a president of Nike footwear once said, 'the trouble in America today is not that we are making too many mistakes, but that we...
Survey finds men wheely sexist - The Age
'Clean enough': The new standard for housekeeping - Chicago Tribune
WITI Names Hall of Fame Inductees - TMC Net
For working women, the new standard in housekeeping is 'clean ... - The Sun News
Explore All

Posted on July 31, 2008, 2:44 am

Chicago series would be nice

Angola Herald-Republican - Found Jul. 15, 2008
Cubs owner Philip Knight Wrigley ejected both Sianis and the goat, due to the objectionable odor of wet goat.

Posted on July 15, 2008, 3:34 am

Timor PM backs civilian gun ownership

The Australian - Found Jul. 2, 2008
But Philip Knight, the technical director of Maubere Security, one of the oldest security firms in the country, said he was unaware the gun...

Posted on July 2, 2008, 2:21 am

YTV 40 Years: The hit factory

Yorkshire Evening Post - Found Jul. 25, 2008
The World Of Eddie Weary, Guests Of The Emperor, Death Trail, The Life & Death Of Philip Knight, Ellington, Finney, Paparazzo, Blood And...

Posted on July 25, 2008, 5:14 am

Philip Knight Biography

Philip Knight
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Phil Knight
Born February 24, 1938 (1938-02-24) (age 70)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Occupation Co-founder and Chairman of Nike, Inc.
Net worth US$10.4 billion (2008)[1]
Spouse(s) Penny Knight
Children Three
Website
Nike Corporation

Philip H. Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire, co-founder and Chairman of Nike, Inc.. He resigned as the company's chief executive officer in 2004, while retaining the position of chairman of the board. As of 2007, Knight's 35% stake in Nike gives him an estimated net worth of US$9.8 billion, making him the 30th richest American.[1]

A graduate of the University of Oregon and Stanford Graduate School of Business, he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the schools. Knight gave the largest donation in history at the time to Stanford's business school in 2006. A native Oregonian, he ran track for coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon, with whom he would co-found Nike.

Contents

Early years

Phil Knight was born February 24, 1938 in Portland, Oregon, the son of lawyer and later newspaper publisher.[2] Knight attended Cleveland High School in Portland before enrolling at the University of Oregon in Eugene where he graduated in 1959 with a journalism degree.[2] He was a middle-distance runner at the school under track coach Bill Bowerman and ran a personal best 4:10 mile,[3] winning varsity letters for track in 1957, 1958, and 1959. He is also a proud brother of the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta

Budding entrepreneur

Bowerman had been experimenting with new shoe designs using his wife's waffle iron. In those days running shoes were low quality by today's standards, with many being made by tire companies and costing as little as $5.[2] Knight, in an effort to improve his times, often found himself experimenting with Bowerman's latest shoes. Bowerman and Knight worked together to continue to develop the ideas that would become Nike running shoes.

Right after graduation from Oregon, Knight enlisted in the Army and served one year on active duty and seven years in the Army Reserve.[2] After the year of active duty, he enrolled at Stanford Graduate School of Business.[2] In Frank Shallenberger's small business class, Knight developed a love affair with something besides sports - he discovered he was an entrepreneur. Knight recalls in a Stanford Magazine article[2] "That class was an 'aha!' moment" ... "Shallenberger defined the type of person who was an entrepreneur--and I realized he was talking to me. I remember after saying to myself: 'This is really what I would like to do.' " In this class Knight needed to create a business plan. His paper, "Can Japanese Sports Shoes Do to German Sports Shoes What Japanese Cameras Did to German Cameras?", essentially was the premise to his foray into selling running shoes. He graduated with a Masters of Business Administration from the school in 1962.[2]

After getting a regular job as an accountant as his father suggested, Knight decided to make a trip to Japan to refine his ideas, and help quench his high interest in all things Asian.[2] There he visited an Onitsuka plant, which was making Adidas running shoe knock-offs. So impressed with the quality and low cost, Knight decided to cut a deal with them for U.S. distribution rights before leaving.

Nike's origin

Knight's first sales were made out of a now legendary green Plymouth Valiant at track meets across the Pacific Northwest. By 1971, these early sales allowed Knight to leave his accountant job.

It was Jeff Johnson, a friend of Knight's, who suggested the name Nike. Nike is named after the Greek winged goddess of victory. Nike's logo, now considered one of the most powerful logos in the world, was commissioned for a mere $35 from Carolyn Davidson. According to Nike's website, Knight stated "I don't love it, but it will grow on me." However, in 1983 (Nike went public in 1980), Davidson was given an undisclosed amount of stock from Knight and Nike for her contribution to the company's brand.

Labor issues

Knight was named a "Corporate Crook" in Michael Moore's book Downsize This! in 1996. The book cited the harsh conditions in Indonesian sweatshops, where pregnant women and girls as young as fourteen years old sewed shoes for factories that the company contracted to make its products. Moore went to Knight in the hopes of convincing him to fix this problem. The interview can be seen in Moore's film The Big One – of the nearly 20 CEOs that Moore wished to interview for his movie, only Knight agreed to speak with Moore.

Knight informed Moore that Nike does not own any of the factories that make its products. Knight told Moore if he was willing to invest in and build a factory in the US that could match the quality and price of footwear made overseas, Nike would consider buying shoes from him.

In 1998, Knight pledged to impose more stringent standards for the factories that Nike engages to manufacture its goods, including minimum age standards, factory monitoring, and greater external access to Nike's practices.

Philanthropy

In 2000, Knight was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for his Special Contribution to Sports in Oregon.[4] Knight is believed to have contributed approximately $230 million dollars to the University of Oregon, the majority of which was for athletics.[5] On August 18, 2007, Knight announced that he and his wife, Penny, would be donating an additional $100 million dollars to the University of Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund.[6] This donation is reportedly the largest in the University's history.

However, Knight's contributions to the Athletic department at U of O have not come without controversy.[7] His significant contributions have granted him influence and access atypical of an athletic booster. In addition to the "best seats in the house" for any U of O athletic event, he has his own personalized locker in the football team's locker room, and an athletic building named for him (as well as a library; the law school is named for his father). However, most controversial was his successful lobbying to have his friend and former insurance salesman, Pat Kilkenny, named as Athletic Director.[8] Kilkenny, another wealthy athletic booster, has neither a college degree nor any germane experience. Kilkenny attended but did not graduate from the University of Oregon. The former chairman and chief executive officer of the San Diego-based Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, he grew his business into a nationwide organization with written premiums of nearly $1 billion when he sold the company in 2006.[9] ESPN's "Outside the Lines" spotlighted Knight and his donation-backed influence on U of O athletics on an April 6, 2008 episode.

In 2006, Phil Knight donated $105 million to Stanford GSB - at the time the largest donation to a business school in history.[10] Knight also provided monetary support to his high school alma mater Cleveland High School for their new track, football field, and gymnasium.

Later years

Knight resigned as the company's CEO November 18, 2004, while retaining the position of chairman of the board.[11][12] He was replaced by William Perez, former CEO of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., who was in turn replaced by Mark Parker in 2006.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "#30 Philip Knight". The Forbes 400. Forbes.com (September 20, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Krentzman, Jackie (1997). "The Force Behind the Nike Empire". Stanford Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-05-28. 
  3. ^ "Notable Oregonians: Phil Knight - Innovator, Business Leader". Oregon Blue Book. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  4. ^ "Special Contribution to Sports". Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  5. ^ Bachman, Rachel (May 4, 2008). "Phil Knight's influence transforms University of Oregon athletics". The Oregonian. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  6. ^ Bellamy, Ron (August 20, 2007). "Knights to give major gift to UO". Eugene Register Guard. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  7. ^ Fish, Mike (January 13, 2006). "Just do it!". ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  8. ^ [1]OTL: Phil Knight and Oregon. 6 April 2008
  9. ^ "Oregon Names Kilkenny Athletic Director". GoDucks.com (14 February 2007). Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  10. ^ Tom, Christian L. (September 19, 2006). "Nike Founder Donates $105 million to GSB". The Stanford Daily. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  11. ^ Peterson, Anne M. (November 19, 2004). "Nike's Phil Knight resigns as CEO". The Seattle Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  12. ^ Dash, Eric (November 19, 2004). "Founder of Nike to Hand Off Job to a New Chief". The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  13. ^ Barbaro, Michael; Dash, Eric (January 24, 2006). "Another Outsider Falls Casualty to Nike's Insider Culture". The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-02.

External links

Philip Knight Videos and Clips

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Philip Knight video Phil Knight in a conversation with Michael Moore clip
Title: Nike Chairman Phil Knight with Michael Moore
Description: Phil Knight in a conversation with Michael Moore
Philip Knight video Speech memorization and recitation clip
Title: Ryan Philip Knight
Description: Speech memorization and recitation
Philip Knight video Segment 1: OJ Simpson trial panel with:
Fred Graham, Court TV
Judge Leslie Synder, NYS Supreme Court
Gustave Newman, Defense Attorney

Segment 2:  OJ... clip
Title: Charlie Rose OJ Simpson panel / OJ Tabloid / Nike
Description: Segment 1: OJ Simpson trial panel with: Fred Graham, Court TV Judge Leslie Synder, NYS Supreme Court Gustave Newman, Defense Attorney Segment 2: OJ...
Philip Knight video KSCR 13 s Justin Myers comments on ESPNs report regarding Nike co founder Phil Knights relationship with the University of Oregon Athletic Depart... clip
Title: Phil Knight and UO Athletic Dept
Description: KSCR 13 s Justin Myers comments on ESPNs report regarding Nike co founder Phil Knights relationship with the University of Oregon Athletic Depart...
Philip Knight video phildress as marolyn monroe in english clip
Title: phil knight in a dress
Description: phildress as marolyn monroe in english
Philip Knight video Nike Chairman Phil Knight with Michael Moore
 clip
Title: Nike Chairman Phil Knight with Michael Moore
Description: Nike Chairman Phil Knight with Michael Moore
Philip Knight video This is a speech given by Mary Christina Wood, Philip H. Knight Professor of Law, Luvaas Faculty Fellow  07 08, Morse Center Resident Scholar  06 0... clip
Title: Natures Trust Combatting climate change and ecological destruction with sensi
Description: This is a speech given by Mary Christina Wood, Philip H. Knight Professor of Law, Luvaas Faculty Fellow 07 08, Morse Center Resident Scholar 06 0...
Philip Knight video Interview with Philip Knight clip
Title: If I knew someone who snored...
Description: Interview with Philip Knight