Latest news with #Forever
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nike Rounds Out Management Team With New Head of Communications
Nike has reached through the Golden Arches for its next head of communications. On Monday, the sports giant named Michael Gonda, former chief impact officer for North America at McDonald's, to become its executive vice president and chief communications officer. He will assume the position formerly held by KeJuan Wilkins, who left Nike in March, about six months after Elliott Hill became chief executive officer. More from WWD Supreme and Nike Spruce Up Their Air Force 1 With Leopard Print Pony Hair Costume Designer Tanja Caldwell Talks Keisha and Justin's Love for Sneakers and Jordans on Netflix's 'Forever' Is the Dirty Sneaker Trend Washed Up? Wilkins reportedly resigned for personal reasons and Gonda will officially join Nike on July 7 and report to Hill. In this position, Gonda will lead global communications for Nike, overseeing all facets of the communications strategy, including storytelling, corporate and brand reputation, issues management, and employee engagement. He will also become a member of the company's senior leadership team. This rounds out Hill's executive team that will be charged with moving the company forward, according to sources. The leadership team includes Venkatesh Alagirisamy, chief supply chain officer; Thomas Clarke, chief growth initiatives officer; Muge Erdirik Kogan, executive vice president and chief technology officer; Matthew Friend, executive vice president and chief financial officer; Nicole Graham, chief marketing officer; Treasure Heinle, executive vice president and chief human resources officer; Rob Leinwand, executive vice president and chief legal officer; Phil McCartney, executive vice president and chief innovation, design and product officer; Ann Miller, executive vice president of sports marketing; Amy Montagne, president of Nike, and Craig Williams, president of geographies and marketplace. 'Michael is a deeply strategic, emotionally intelligent, purpose-driven leader who understands the power of storytelling to move both brands and people,' said Hill. 'His vision for driving impactful communications, his instinct for building high-performing teams, and his ability to form authentic connections will help Nike amplify the voice of sport and athletes around the world in bold and meaningful ways. I'm confident he's the right leader for us as we put Nike back at the center of sport, and our team is excited for the vision and leadership he brings.' At McDonald's, Gonda also served as chief communications officer, where he was in charge of communications, public affairs, sustainability, community engagement and philanthropy for the company's largest markets. He also served on the global senior leadership team for that company. 'Nike has always been more than a brand — it's a storyteller, a cultural force, and a catalyst for belief,' said Gonda. 'I'm deeply honored to join a company that has shaped how people see themselves and the world around them, and am humbled to help Nike tell the stories that matter, connect even more deeply with athletes and communities, and write the next ambitious chapter with Elliott and this team.' Prior to McDonald's, Gonda held senior leadership positions at Chobani and communications agency Weber Shandwick. He is an avid runner and has lived across the U.S. as well as in Kenya and China. Gonda's appointment is just the latest change at the sports brand. Last week the company said that its head of innovation, John Hoke, would be retiring from his position. Just weeks before that, it said Heidi O'Neill, president of consumer, product and brand, would also be exiting. Hill was lured out of retirement to rejoin Nike last October and has been instrumental in orchestrating massive changes within the organization, ranging from the executive team to distribution and pricing. In the company's third-quarter earnings call in March, Hill was vocal about how Nike needs to be more innovative and also reduce the amount of product available in the market. During the call, he said Nike's new priorities will be centered around five fields of play: running, basketball, football, training and sportswear; three countries: the U.S., China and the U.K., and five cities: New York, Los Angeles, London, Beijing and Shanghai. The company also revealed that it was returning to Amazon after a six-year hiatus and would be raising prices on both footwear and apparel in response to tariffs. These major moves are an answer to criticism that Nike had lost its edge to competitors such as Hoka and On, particularly in the footwear space. While the company is making some progress, there's still a lot of work to do. Net income in the third quarter was $794 million, down 32 percent from $1.2 billion in the year-ago period. Net sales in the period were $11.3 billion, down 9 percent from $12.4 billion, on a reported basis, compared to the prior year. Best of WWD EXCLUSIVE: Maje Names Charlotte Tasset Ferrec CEO Nadja Swarovski Exits Family Company Amid Ongoing Corporate Shakeup Aeffe MD Exits Fashion Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nike Rounds Out Management Team With New Head of Communications
Nike has reached through the Golden Arches for its next head of communications. On Monday, the sports giant named Michael Gonda, former chief impact officer for North America at McDonald's, to become its executive vice president and chief communications officer. He will assume the position formerly held by KeJuan Wilkins, who left Nike in March, about six months after Elliott Hill became chief executive officer. More from WWD Supreme and Nike Spruce Up Their Air Force 1 With Leopard Print Pony Hair Costume Designer Tanja Caldwell Talks Keisha and Justin's Love for Sneakers and Jordans on Netflix's 'Forever' Is the Dirty Sneaker Trend Washed Up? Wilkins reportedly resigned for personal reasons and Gonda will officially join Nike on July 7 and report to Hill. In this position, Gonda will lead global communications for Nike, overseeing all facets of the communications strategy, including storytelling, corporate and brand reputation, issues management, and employee engagement. He will also become a member of the company's senior leadership team. This rounds out Hill's executive team that will be charged with moving the company forward, according to sources. The leadership team includes Venkatesh Alagirisamy, chief supply chain officer; Thomas Clarke, chief growth initiatives officer; Muge Erdirik Kogan, executive vice president and chief technology officer; Matthew Friend, executive vice president and chief financial officer; Nicole Graham, chief marketing officer; Treasure Heinle, executive vice president and chief human resources officer; Rob Leinwand, executive vice president and chief legal officer; Phil McCartney, executive vice president and chief innovation, design and product officer; Ann Miller, executive vice president of sports marketing; Amy Montagne, president of Nike, and Craig Williams, president of geographies and marketplace. 'Michael is a deeply strategic, emotionally intelligent, purpose-driven leader who understands the power of storytelling to move both brands and people,' said Hill. 'His vision for driving impactful communications, his instinct for building high-performing teams, and his ability to form authentic connections will help Nike amplify the voice of sport and athletes around the world in bold and meaningful ways. I'm confident he's the right leader for us as we put Nike back at the center of sport, and our team is excited for the vision and leadership he brings.' At McDonald's, Gonda also served as chief communications officer, where he was in charge of communications, public affairs, sustainability, community engagement and philanthropy for the company's largest markets. He also served on the global senior leadership team for that company. 'Nike has always been more than a brand — it's a storyteller, a cultural force, and a catalyst for belief,' said Gonda. 'I'm deeply honored to join a company that has shaped how people see themselves and the world around them, and am humbled to help Nike tell the stories that matter, connect even more deeply with athletes and communities, and write the next ambitious chapter with Elliott and this team.' Prior to McDonald's, Gonda held senior leadership positions at Chobani and communications agency Weber Shandwick. He is an avid runner and has lived across the U.S. as well as in Kenya and China. Gonda's appointment is just the latest change at the sports brand. Last week the company said that its head of innovation, John Hoke, would be retiring from his position. Just weeks before that, it said Heidi O'Neill, president of consumer, product and brand, would also be exiting. Hill was lured out of retirement to rejoin Nike last October and has been instrumental in orchestrating massive changes within the organization, ranging from the executive team to distribution and pricing. In the company's third-quarter earnings call in March, Hill was vocal about how Nike needs to be more innovative and also reduce the amount of product available in the market. During the call, he said Nike's new priorities will be centered around five fields of play: running, basketball, football, training and sportswear; three countries: the U.S., China and the U.K., and five cities: New York, Los Angeles, London, Beijing and Shanghai. The company also revealed that it was returning to Amazon after a six-year hiatus and would be raising prices on both footwear and apparel in response to tariffs. These major moves are an answer to criticism that Nike had lost its edge to competitors such as Hoka and On, particularly in the footwear space. While the company is making some progress, there's still a lot of work to do. Net income in the third quarter was $794 million, down 32 percent from $1.2 billion in the year-ago period. Net sales in the period were $11.3 billion, down 9 percent from $12.4 billion, on a reported basis, compared to the prior year. Best of WWD EXCLUSIVE: Maje Names Charlotte Tasset Ferrec CEO Nadja Swarovski Exits Family Company Amid Ongoing Corporate Shakeup Aeffe MD Exits Fashion Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Karate Kid: Legends' knocked as ‘uninspired' and ‘unnecessary' by critics
When it comes to Karate Kid: Legends, critics are taking a page from Cobra Kai's book and showing no mercy. Reviews, which just went online, largely knock the sequel for hitting too many of the same beats as its predecessors. Frank Scheck from The Hollywood Reporter says, "While no one could begrudge the seemingly ageless Ralph Macchio and beloved action star Jackie Chan the opportunity to reprise their roles of Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han, respectively, this latest addition to an apparently unkillable franchise adds nothing original to the formula. It's a formula that works, to be sure, making for a pleasant enough time filler. But that's about it." More from GoldDerby 'There's no skimming a Wes Anderson script': 'The Phoenician Scheme' cast on working with the director 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'Eureka Day' playwright Jonathan Spector talks vaccine debates, vicious comment sections, and 'the failure of a utopia' Joining Chan and Macchio is Ben Wang as Li Fong, the titular kid, and Ming-Na Wen as his mom. Li's journey brings together the two disparate branches of the film series, much like the character fuses the fighting styles of his teachers, kung-fu and karate. But all of these connections to the franchise's past may have a draining effect on Legends, as IndieWire's Wilson Chapman argues. "In the pantheon of unnecessary legacy sequels — distant continuations that dig up decades of history to occasionally transcendent but mostly exasperating effect — it's hard to come up with a film that gains less from its connections to the work it's tied to than Karate Kid: Legends. Partly, there's a deep sense of redundancy: the iconic '80s Karate Kid martial arts franchise has already been the subject of a six-season sequel series Cobra Kai that just concluded a mere three months ago, which had flaws but nonetheless inspired affection for its cheeky reverence to the cheesy charms of the 1984 original film." For Screen Crush's Matt Singer, it's Legends' lack of emotional character development that ultimately cuts it down. "The reason the original Karate Kid resonated so strongly with audiences was not the fight scenes; it was because Daniel and Mr. Miyagi were fully realized characters," he writes. "They spent long scenes talking to one another, learning from one another. The audience didn't cheer at the All-Valley Tournament because it was a well-choreographed fight scene. They cheered because they cared about Daniel." And while Variety's Owen Gleiberman saw many of the same flaws in the film, he argues that they coalesce to make for a breezy watch. "The film dunks us in a storyline so simple, so unironic, so cheesy-sincere, so analog that you may feel it transporting you right back to the 'innocence' of the '80s," he writes. "And that's actually the best thing about Karate Kid: Legends. It's a film that's unapologetically basic and wholesome and, at 94 minutes, refreshingly stripped down. In its formulaic way, it works as an antidote to the bloat and clutter of your average 'high-powered' teenage/kiddie flick." Karate Kid: Legends opens in theaters on Friday. Best of GoldDerby Marilyn Monroe movies: 15 greatest films ranked worst to best Clint Eastwood movies: 20 greatest films ranked worst to best Morgan Freeman movies: 15 greatest films ranked worst to best Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as ‘music hits their soul'
Director Thom Zimny has spent over 25 years collaborating with rock legend Bruce Springsteen, helping tell the story behind his music and performances. In his latest film, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Zimny takes fans behind the curtain, showcasing band rehearsals, rare clips, concert footage, and Springsteen's personal reflections. "What's different about Road Diary is that I had this opportunity to play with a bunch of different forms in the filmmaking process," Zimny tells Gold Derby. "I had vérité footage to work with, I had these moments of concert that I wanted to capture, and also, the band at this point was a narrative I wanted to explore." More from GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'Eureka Day' playwright Jonathan Spector talks vaccine debates, vicious comment sections, and 'the failure of a utopia' Breakout star Owen Cooper admits 'Adolescence' was 'very out of my comfort zone' Springsteen hadn't toured in years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Zimny saw an opportunity to explore themes of time, change, and connection. After receiving a call from the musician inviting him to 'drop in at the rehearsal,' Zimny assembled a small crew and began capturing behind-the-scenes moments. 'The story was the band going back on the road,' Zimny explains, 'but the bigger theme was [Springsteen] sculpting a set list that reflected what he was interested in at this moment — looking at the past and reconnecting with an audience.' Zimny's relationship with Springsteen began while working on the Live in New York City concert film for HBO. 'It was the early days of filming with HD cameras, and Bruce hated the way it looked. It was too cold, emotionally. I was a film guy and really connected to what they were struggling with,' Zimny recalls. Through creative approaches — like adding grain and treating musical moments as dialogue — Zimny forged a strong creative bond with Springsteen, which eventually grew into a decades-long collaboration. On the collaborative process for Road Diary, Zimny describes it as organic and improvisational. 'There was no set vision,' he says. 'What happens is, I go to his space, I film for a bit, I cut together some of the things that I see, and I invite him into the edit room... It just builds that way. It's a real luxury as a filmmaker to have that trust.' Zimny also wanted to bring fans closer to the emotional experience of a Springsteen concert. 'There's this moment that happens — and I've seen it many times — this deep connection in someone's face. It's in their eyes. I chase that visual representation of the music hitting their soul,' says Zimny. "I wanted to be this observer of how Bruce and his writing hit and impact an audience. That meant shooting things at certain angles and studying how stage lighting looked in daylight — really trying to find these slowed-down magical moments where you feel like, 'Oh my god. This music is really moving this person.' We're trying to tell as story, but also staying as close as we can to the true musical experience in the filmmaking." Even after working with Springsteen for so long, Zimny remains in awe of the musician's creative drive. 'Even after 25 years, I'm always surprised when he texts me the next adventure he's on,' Zimny shares. Reflecting on Springsteen's recent release of Tracks II: The Lost Albums, which features seven realized albums, Zimny adds, 'The body of work that he's created is just unbelievable. The big surprise that people can't possibly comprehend is the intensity and the focus he has with the work.' "There was a great opportunity with Road Diary to both explain that history and bring it up to date," Zimny shares. "The common thread that I found with all of it was this work ethic and commitment they all carried. Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+. This article and video are presented by Disney and Hulu. Best of GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal The Making of 'Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Brats' director Andrew McCarthy reflects on Brat Pack legacy, reuniting with '80s icons, and possible ‘St. Elmo's Fire' revival
"The movie is really about the passing of time," Brats director Andrew McCarthy tells Gold Derby. "I turned 60 not that long ago and I realized that I had begun to look at events of my life in a different way than I used to." For the first time in decades, McCarthy reunites with fellow Brat Packers Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, and Ally Sheedy, along with other stars of that era like Jon Cryer, Timothy Hutton, and Lea Thompson, to discuss their rise to stardom in the 1980s and how the term "Brat Pack" — coined by journalist David Blum in an article for New York Magazine — impacted their careers. More from GoldDerby 'Karate Kid: Legends' knocked as 'uninspired' and 'unnecessary' by critics 'There's no skimming a Wes Anderson script': 'The Phoenician Scheme' cast on working with the director 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' Reflecting further, McCarthy says his fascination lies less with the Brat Pack itself and more with how perspectives on life evolve with time. "When I was 22, we hated it — all of us," he says. "We felt stigmatized — it was very limiting. It was long before it became this soft and fuzzy, incredibly affectionate moniker that it is now. Somewhere along the line, I realized this was perhaps the best professional blessing of my life and nothing had changed except my relationship to it. I wanted to go seek out the other guys and gals and see if their experience was similar." McCarthy says the greatest surprise in making the movie was realizing how much affection the actors had for each other. "It was not the case back in the day," he reveals. "We were all very young, scared and competitive. Now, so much time has gone by so, who cares? We were the only ones in this club we never asked to join. All we had to do is look at each other and we had this recognition. Someone asked me, 'Do you want to send me a list of questions first?' and I said, 'I don't have any questions. I just want to come talk to you. I imagine when we just look at each other we will have a lot to say.' I didn't want to make a talking heads movie — I wanted to just go see these people and talk to them." Hulu The director's goal was to show what the Brat Pack felt like from the inside — a very different perspective from what outsiders perceived. "I wanted viewers to nod and think, 'I don't have the Brat Pack, but I can substitute [my own group or experience] in my life.' I was hoping to create that identification with the viewer by making the film a subjective and open experience." According to McCarthy, time hasn't fundamentally changed anyone in the group. "They had become themselves, only more so," he says with a chuckle. "Rob, at the beginning, was no more of a fan of it than any of us, but Rob is a very savvy guy. He realized sooner than a lot of us that this is a beautiful thing. We had become the avatars of youth for a certain demographic and a certain generation. That's a beautiful thing. When people come up to me and talk about Pretty in Pink or St. Elmo's Fire, pretty quickly their eyes glaze over. They're talking to themselves in their own youth — they're not really talking to me anymore. What I can do for them and for myself is just receive them. It took me a long time to realize what a gift that was." Hulu McCarthy recalls that Demi Moore was the first person to agree to participate in the film. "It was very uncomplicated," he recalls. "With other people it was a bit like herding cats. When I called the writer of the article, David Blum, who I had never had any contact with, his first question was, 'What's your agenda?' I said, 'I don't have an agenda. My agenda is to find out what your experience was.' He, in a certain way, was like the fifth Beatle. It affected his life and his career as drastically as it affected ours." Not everyone from the Brat Pack wanted to participate in the film, which McCarthy acknowledges. For instance, Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson are absent from the project. "It was proof of concept," McCarthy says. "This really affected our lives. Forty years later, some people still don't want to talk about it. That's really interesting." McCarthy says he's not sure if Ringwald or Nelson watched his film, but he has spoken to them since. "I didn't ask, 'Hey, did you see the movie you didn't want to be in?' That's their business. The movie was made with love for everybody. If they didn't want to do it that's fine." With the renewed spotlight on the Brat Pack and Hollywood's ongoing obsession with reunions and reboots, McCarthy hints at the possibility of revisiting St. Elmo's Fire."There's been talk about it — picking the characters up before we all die," he jokes. "We'll see if that actually happens or not, but they're talking about it." Brats is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+. This article and video are presented by Disney and Hulu. Best of GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal The Making of 'Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series Click here to read the full article.
