Elliott Hill started at Nike as an intern in 1988 but steadily scaled its ranks, banking on values of grit and hard work ingrained in him as the son of a single mom in a working class Texas neighborhood.

Athletic equipment and sportswear giant giant Nike (NKE) is as big name there is in its chosen business. It makes all sorts of shoes, uniforms, basketballs and related gear. Its best-known product is the Air Jordan line of basketball shoes.

Hill was at Nike for 32 years and held senior leadership positions across Europe and North America where he helped expand the business to more than $39 billion, the company said