Chris Van Dyke
President & CEO
Nau
Chris has been a product creation and marketing professional in two of the most successful sports apparel companies in the world, Nike and Patagonia. He began his career at Nike after eight years of service to the state of Oregon, beginning as an Assistant Attorney General, and concluding in an elected position as the Marion County District Attorney. Chris joined Nike in 1984 as its East Coast Corporate Legal Counsel. He subsequently moved into the Corporate Communications Department, and then into the product marketing side of the company as the Director of Marketing and Product Development for the Apparel Division.
By 1995, Chris was Nike’s Asia Pacific Director of Marketing and Brand Development, based in Hong Kong, eventually increasing annual revenues of the 11-country region to $900 million. In his capacity as Asia Pacific Director of Marketing, Chris was responsible for brand strategy development, action planning, and marketing plan execution. He also served as a key member to an 8-person team focused on Nike Global Brand Management.
In 1999, Chris accepted a position as the VP of Marketing and Product Development for Patagonia. At Patagonia, Chris was responsible for the management of marketing and branding communications, including advertising, catalog, Website, retail, and PR. His responsibilities also covered management of product creation, including line planning, product design, merchandising, pricing, and product development. Chris co-founded the consulting firm of Van Dyke & Zilligen in 2004 to help corporations become financially stronger by making social and environmental responsibility a core value of their business and a key component of their branding message.
Chris has managed teams of professionals for the last 25 years, and will provide the guidance and leadership required of a Chief Executive Officer to ensure that Nau becomes a leader in the outdoor apparel marketplace. His personal interests–sailing, surfing, cycling, adventure travel and rock climbing–will continue to provide him inspiration. His commitment to performance will be a hallmark of his leadership style and his commitment to corporate achievement in the context of environmental and social responsibility will help guide the company into a successful future.
