Nike Inc. spent nearly $104 million on pay and benefits for John Donahoe during his near five-year tenure atop the sneaker-maker, before replacing the former Bain & Co. executive in a bid to revive the brand.

When Nike said on Thursday that John Donahoe was stepping down as chief executive officer, his exit from a rocky tenure offered a brutal reminder to corporate boards: Focus on what a company's core business is when looking for a new CEO.

Nike CEO John Donahoe is retiring from his position and longtime company veteran Elliott Hill is returning to take the top job. Donahoe is slated to step down on Oct. 13 but will remain on as an adivsor through the end of January.