John Nike, English businessman, Died at 81

  Business

Leonard John Nike was born in July 1935, in Devon, England and died on December 25, 2016.

He was an English businessman, and a Bracknell-based leisure and hotel entrepreneur.

Nike was best known for being the owner of the eponymous John Nike Leisure sport chain of dry ski slope complexes.

He was the Chairman of Nike Land Securities Ltd (trading as the Nike Group of Companies), a Bracknell-based company encompassing a wide range of activities, with commercial interests spanning property, construction, a hotel, restaurants, skiing and ice skating.

He was also a Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire, as well as being an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Bracknell Forest.

John Nike was a benefactor to many institutions, especially in academia, education and sports.

Reportedly, with his family, Nike was worth £92 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2006.

He was the funder of The John Nike Athletics Stadium at the Bracknell Sport and Leisure Centre in 1984, The John Nike Lecture Theatre in the Agriculture Building at the University of Reading in 2000, named The John Nike Digital Suite at South Hill Park in Bracknell in 2004 and The John Nike Dance Studio at The Brakenhale School in Bracknell in 2011.

Nike resided at Murrell Hill at Popeswood in Binfield.

He died in Reading, England.

John Nike passed away at 81 years old.