INC.
When it has to change
Transform
Resetting strategy, structure and standards so the organisation performs at a different level.
Transformation · Turnaround · Scale · Expansion
Chris
Kypriotis
Former Vice President, Nike Inc. & President, Nike Brazil
Former Member, ITF Board of Directors
Founder & CEO, BlackTag Inc.
He took Nike Brazil from US$500M to over US$2B through the 2014 FIFA World Cup and made it Nike's third-largest market worldwide. Over 30+ years he has built and turned around businesses in sport, fashion and luxury on five continents. Through BlackTag Inc. he works with owners, CEOs and boards on transformation, turnaround, scale and international expansion.
30+Years leading global brands
$2B+Nike Brazil, from US$500M
#3Nike market worldwide
22Countries run from one HQ
NikeInternational Olympic CommitteeFIFAAppleRichemontRed BullITFAchéWorld Economic ForumBillabongStüssyRVCAElementNixonMossimoDaKineVon ZipperRustyDieselDonna KaranInter
About
Thirty years across sport, streetwear and luxury.
Chris built his career at the meeting point of sport and culture. He started in Southern California streetwear and action sports, in business and brand development at Stüssy and Mossimo during their formative years, then led international expansion strategy for Donna Karan and product and line development for Diesel.
At C&C Companies (Rusty) he led the turnaround of the European business across 22 countries. As Group Vice President of Billabong International and President of South America, he grew the region from US$3M to over US$200M and led acquisitions for the Group, including RVCA, Element and Xcel.
At Nike (2011–2015) he took the business from US$500M to over US$2B through the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the build-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Brazil became Nike's third-largest market worldwide, with roughly 40% revenue CAGR and 67% EBIT growth. His ten-year Nike Brazil 2020 Plan was later adopted as the standard across Nike's major geographies.
In governance, he served on the International Tennis Federation Board of Directors and four terms on its Olympic Committee, and took the Brazilian Tennis Confederation from US$3M in debt to R$25M in annual income. A former professional tennis player, he holds degrees from Boston College and California State University, Long Beach, where he was an Onassis Foundation Scholar.
The practice
What BlackTag does
BlackTag works at the moments that decide a company's next decade.
When it is under pressure
Stabilise
Crisis leadership for owners and boards: first moves, hard calls, momentum back.
When it is ready to grow
Scale
Turning a strong business into a system that grows without breaking.
When it crosses borders
Expand
Market entry and international build-outs across the Americas, Europe and beyond.
CEO advisoryPrivate counsel to a small number of high-profile chief executives.
SpeakingKeynotes and closed-door sessions on high-performance culture.
Offices in São Paulo and Athens · Mandates worldwide
Mandates
Selected clients
and organisations
Selected organisations Chris has led, governed and worked with.
Nike
Sport · Vice President, Nike Inc. & President, Nike Brazil · 2011–2015
Nike's most critical market, through the World Cup and the Olympic Games
Full P&L for Nike Brazil through FIFA World Cup 2014 and Rio 2016. Built the ten-year growth plan, later adopted across major Nike geographies. Led the Football Attack Plan that signed Santos and Internacional and re-signed Corinthians, and the sponsorship of the Brazilian Olympic Team. One of the 30 leaders on Nike's Global Leadership Team.
~40%Revenue CAGR
~67%EBIT growth
$2B+From US$500M
#3Nike market globally
ITF
Governance · 2005–2013
Board of Directors & Olympic Committee
Fifth of 19 candidates worldwide in 2011 and top-voted from the Americas. Second-youngest board member in ITF history. Chairman of Wheelchair Tennis and of Women's Professional Tennis.
Four Olympic Committee terms
IOC
Olympic Movement
Trusted counsel to the Olympic movement
Strategic perspective at the meeting point of sport, brand and global governance, shaped by four Olympic Games from the inside.
Partner · BlackTag Inc.
FIFA
Football
Strategic partner in world football
A commercial and brand view of the game built by leading Nike’s most important football market through the FIFA World Cup 2014.
Partner · BlackTag Inc.
Red Bull
Sport, media & culture
Where sport meets culture
Three decades inside action sports, athletes and youth culture, brought to one of the boldest brands in the world.
Partner · BlackTag Inc.
Apple
Technology
Alongside a global icon
Consumer, brand and market insight shared with one of the most valuable and admired companies on earth.
Partner · BlackTag Inc.
Richemont
Luxury
Inside world-class luxury
Consumer and market expertise from Latin America’s most demanding luxury arena, for one of the world’s leading luxury groups.
Partner · BlackTag Inc.
Aché
Pharmaceutical
Performance beyond sport
The same operating discipline that built global sport brands, applied with one of Brazil’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
Partner · BlackTag Inc.
Leadership
Friends and Partners
Presidents, chief executives and federation leaders Chris has worked alongside.
North America · South America · Europe · Australia · Asia
The record
30+ years.
Five continents.
Professional tennis player, then three decades leading brands, regions and federations.
| Years | Role | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 – now | Founder & CEO LiveBlackTag Inc. | Transformation, turnaround, scale and international expansion for owners, CEOs and boards, from advisory to interim executive roles and equity partnerships. Clients include Apple, Richemont, Aché, Li Ning and Inter Milan. |
| 2017 – now | Co-Founder LiveRE1 | Branding and image consultancy specialising in the luxury sector. |
| 2026 – now | Ethics Committee LiveHellenic Tennis Federation | Board-appointed member. |
| 2016 – 2019 | Co-Founder & CEONetbrands · Netshoes Group | Partner e-commerce platforms within the world’s largest sporting goods e-commerce group, for Timberland, Havaianas, NBA, NFL, UFC and Puma. |
| 2011 – 2015 | Vice President, Nike Inc. & President, Nike BrazilGlobal Leadership Team, Nike, Inc. | US$500M to over US$2B; ~40% revenue CAGR, ~67% EBIT growth. Nike's third-largest market worldwide. |
| 2010 – 2013 | Founding ChairmanAPICE / MOVE, Brazil | Voice of Brazil's $4.9B sporting goods industry to government, for members including Nike, Adidas, Puma and Under Armour. |
| 2009 – 2013 | Board of DirectorsInternational Tennis Federation | Fifth of 19 candidates worldwide in 2011, top-voted from the Americas. Four Olympic Committee terms (2005–2013). Chairman of Wheelchair Tennis and of Women's Professional Tennis. |
| 2004 – 2013 | General ManagerBrazilian Tennis Confederation | From US$3M in debt to R$25M in annual income. Presented by the ITF to all member nations as a turnaround case study. |
| 2003 – 2010 | Group Vice President & President, South AmericaBillabong International | From US$3M to US$200M+ revenue and from 15 to 400+ people. Led Group acquisitions including Element, RVCA and Xcel. |
| 1998 – now | Co-Founder & Honorary Lifetime ChairmanEUROSIMA | Built the European surf, skate and snow industry association with the category's leading global brands. |
| 1992 – 2003 | General Manager & President, C&C EuropeC&C Companies · Rusty | ~45% average annual revenue growth, ~55% EBIT growth. Turnaround of the European division from Biarritz across 22 countries. |
| Early career | Brand builderStüssy · Mossimo · Donna Karan · Diesel | Business and brand development at Stüssy and Mossimo in their formative years; international expansion strategy for Donna Karan; product and line development for Diesel. |
LanguagesGreekEnglishPortugueseFrenchSpanish
Network
Institutions
and brands
Governance, sport, cause and culture. The institutions and brands Chris has served, led or helped build.
Institutions & causes
IOC
Client, International Olympic Committee, through BlackTag.ITF
Board of Directors and four terms on the Olympic Committee.World Economic Forum
Speaker, Davos 2009 and Rio 2011.Non-Violence Project
Global Ambassador, alongside Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono.EUROSIMA
Co-Founder & Honorary Lifetime Chairman.APICE / MOVE
Founding Chairman, Brazil’s sporting goods industry.Government of Brazil
National Commissioner, High Performance Sport and Events, 2011.Inter Academies
Launched Inter Milan Academies in Brazil.WWSA Academies
Founding Partner, Worldwide Soccer Academies.FGV
Guest lecturer, Sport Business MBA.FAAP
Lecturer, Luxury Brand Management MBA.Art Basel
Guest speaker and panel roundtables.Brands led & built
Nike
Billabong
Stüssy
RVCA
Element
Nixon
Mossimo
DaKine
Von Zipper
Rusty
Diesel
Donna Karan
Olympic Games
Olympic record
Eight years on the ITF Olympic Committee, then the Rio cycle from the other side, as the brand leader of the host nation.
2007
Rio Pan American Games
Ran the tennis event from site plan to final. Executive Board member. Certificate of Excellence from the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
2008
Beijing Olympic Games
Delivered the Olympic tennis event as a member of the ITF Olympic Committee.
2012
London Olympic Games
Planned the Olympic tennis event with the Committee. Full-access credential.
2016
Rio Olympic Games
Led Nike Brazil through the cycle, including the sponsorship of the Brazilian Olympic Team.
On the record
Moments
Three decades alongside the people who shape sport. Olympic committees, federation presidents, world champions and the legends of the game.
“Greatness takes everything.”
Sport taught me that the performance people see is built on the work they don’t: the preparation, the discipline, and the decision to keep going when progress is hard. It also taught me to read the game, think strategically, and adapt as conditions change. I carry those same beliefs into business. Building something exceptional takes more than ambition. It takes understanding your audience, knowing when to stay the course and when to change direction, and the humility to keep learning. Above all, it takes a team. As a player, I depended on the expertise and commitment of the people around me. As a leader, I make building and strengthening my team a constant priority—the foundation that allows us all to give our best.
Chris KypriotisKeynotes & CEO advisory
Speaking
Chris speaks at major industry events and to leadership teams behind closed doors. He also advises a small number of high-profile CEOs one to one. Direct, practical and built on the tour, Nike and the global sport business.
Selected stages
Enquire about availability
- World Economic Forum, Davos
- World Economic Forum, Rio
- Art Basel
- BoF Voices
- Founders Forum, London
- Summit Series, Los Angeles
- Surface to Air Forum, Paris
- ASR, San Diego
- YPO
- WPO
- SBC Summit Rio
- EO Scaling Up Summit
- Endeavor
- FGV
- FAAP
Among others.
- KeynoteInside high-performance cultureWhat separates champions from contenders, in sport and in business.
- KeynoteGreatness takes everythingWhat it takes to build something exceptional, in sport and in business.
- SessionBuilding a brand that wins a countryNike Brazil through the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
- Closed doorLeading when the score is against youCrisis, turnaround and the first hundred days.
Press & organisers
Press kit
Approved material for event programmes, introductions and editorial use.
Chris Kypriotis is the former Vice President of Nike, Inc. and President of Nike Brazil, where he took the business from US$500M to over US$2B through the 2014 FIFA World Cup and made Brazil Nike's third-largest market worldwide. Before Nike he was Group Vice President of Billabong International and President of South America, growing the region from US$3M to over US$200M, and he led the turnaround of C&C Europe (Rusty) across 22 countries. He served on the International Tennis Federation Board of Directors and its Olympic Committee, and took the Brazilian Tennis Confederation from US$3M in debt to R$25M in annual income. Today, as founder and CEO of BlackTag Inc., he works with owners, CEOs and boards on transformation, turnaround, scale and international expansion. A former professional tennis player, he holds degrees from Boston College and California State University, Long Beach.
One-page biography, PDF
The full biography with the record at a glance. For boards, media kits and event organisers.
Open the PDF
Full resolution
SBC Summit Rio, March 2026. 1686 × 2528 px.
Contact
Contact
BlackTag takes on a limited number of mandates each year. Introductions are handled personally and in confidence.
Emailck@blacktaginc.com
LinkedInin/ckblacktaginc
ReachWorldwideOffices in São Paulo, Brazil and Athens, Greece