The Globe and Mail reports from its Thursday edition that Nike's months-long turnaround under chief executive officer Elliott Hill faces fresh pressure as the Middle East conflict adds to its struggles. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that on Wednesday Nike announced a steep fall in current-quarter sales and a 20-per-cent drop in China. Mr. Hill, who took the helm in 2024, has looked to reset the business as Nike grappled with a sluggish digital business, stubborn excess inventory and growing competition from Chinese sportswear brands such as Anta and Li Ning, which have deeper connections with Chinese consumers. The turnaround "is taking longer than I would like," Mr. Hill said on a third quarter earnings call. "If Nike's recovery is a marathon rather than a sprint, then the company seems to be hitting a wall," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. "Pleas for patience from CEO Elliott Hill, a Nike lifer, who returned from retirement to lead the company, are falling on deaf ears." Major sportswear makers including Nike and Adidas have been hit by their heavy reliance on manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia, leaving them exposed to steep U.S. tariffs on imports from Vietnam and other countries.