NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nike Inc's (NKE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Jordan brand is looking to expand in international markets including China, India and Eastern Europe, as U.S. sales growth slows, its new president said on Thursday.

Jordan president Garry Cook, a 12-year Nike veteran who has been in his current role for three months, told Reuters that, after several years, international markets could make up at least 25 percent of sales for the sports shoe and apparel brand, up from about 12 percent now.

Cook said Jordan's sales growth in the U.S. is starting to slow amid the economic downturn, but is still in the 6 to 10 percent range. By contrast, the international business is growing at roughly 20 percent a year, he said.

The Jordan brand, which first hit shelves in 1997, is named for basketball great Michael Jordan.

(Reporting by Martinne Geller; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)