Jane Ewing joins the company next month and will be “vital” to strengthening connections across the organization, CEO Elliott Hill said.

It’s been almost two years since Hill came out of retirement to lead Nike, but the executive is still making changes to the retailer’s leadership team.

New CFO David Denton arrived earlier this month, replacing longtime Nike vet Matt Friend. Now Ewing will join to oversee sales and direct channels, just months after that same position was cut. Nike’s DTC business was a big part of the retailer’s strategy under former CEO John Donahoe, but the retailer has cut back on that effort in recent years, including by quietly shuttering Nike Live stores across the country (the localized concept was later rebranded as Nike Well Collective).

Ewing will be responsible for accelerating both wholesale and DTC growth, according to Hill. The executive called her role “vital” to building strong connections between product, brand and the company’s distribution channels.

“This is an important part of our comeback,” Hill said in a memo on Ewing’s appointment, which was posted to Nike’s corporate website. “Together, these leaders will continue advancing our efforts to create a more connected and integrated marketplace, strengthen partner relationships, elevate consumer experiences across digital and physical retail, and unlock growth opportunities around the world. We’ve made progress over the last year, and there’s more opportunity ahead of us.”

Nike revenue fell 1% in the retailer’s most recent quarter and the retailer cut guidance, flagging decelerating consumer trends starting in the middle of April.

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