Nike’s HR chief has conceded that it has “failed” in promoting and hiring women and other minorities to senior-level positions within the business.

In a memo send to staff on Wednesday in the US Nike’s human resources chief Monique Matheson signalled broad based changes in the sneaker giant’s policies, American outlet CNBC reports.

The memo comes just a few weeks after the resignation of general manager of global categories Jayme Martin amid reports of inappropriate behaviour.

“While we’ve spoken about this many times, and tried different ways to achieve change, we have failed to gain traction – and our hiring and promotion decisions are not changing senior-level representation as quickly as we have wanted,” Matheson’s memo reads, according to CNBC.

Currently only 29 per cent of Nike’s vice presidents are women while in the US only 16 per cent are people of colour.

Nike will now renew its efforts to address this disparity with immediate effect, Matheson said.

Nike has more than 70,000 employees worldwide and several hundred vice presidents.

Access exclusive analysis, locked news and reports with Inside Retail Weekly. Subscribe today and get our premium print publication delivered to your door every week.