Mark Parker

A sneaker designer and company lifer (who was even part of the development team for early iterations of Air Jordans), Mark Parker is a former runner (and still occasionally designs limited-run shoes) with a long track record of success. But his introverted personality and role as successor to famed Nike co-founder Phil Knight have kept his achievements from receiving their full due. Consider these numbers: Since taking the helm in 2006, Parker has doubled revenues and profits at the already-mature company and raised Nike’s stock price six-fold. As Knight himself puts it, “It’s about time the media discovered Mark Parker.”

Read "Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year: Nike CEO Mark Parker" here.