Another shakeup to the leadership at Target

Another high level defection from Target's merchandising ranks suggests CEO Brian Cornell's strategic vision for the retailer is not universally shared.

Jose Barra, executive vice president in charge of merchandising at Target, is departing the Minnesota-based retailer for a new position, The Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the Journal, Target is looking for a new chief merchandising officer, and is evaluating outside candidates. When that chief merchant comes on board, he or she will lead a team that includes Anne Dament, SVP grocery; Christina Hennington, SVP health and beauty; and Scott Nygaard, SVP hardlines.

Barra was one of three merchandising deputies reporting directly to Kathee Tesija, former Target EVP chief merchandising and supply chain officer, who departed in June. Barra was promoted to EVP along with two other merchants last year shortly after Target CEO Brian Cornell took the helm.

During her 30-year career, Tesija helped articulate what the company’s “expect more, pay less” brand promise looked like to shoppers when they visited Target stores or Target.com. By offering a relentlessly differentiated product assortment and striking deals with established and emerging designers, Tesija and the merchant team she led ensured Target was a destination for the fashionable and cost conscious regardless of the product category.

According to an internal memo obtained by Drug Store News, the position of EVP essentials and hardlines will be eliminated and Dament will assume responsibilty for owned brands. Dament will pick up responsbility for household, paper and pets in October. She will direct Amanda Irish, VP owned brands, and Moyo Labode, VP household, paper and pets.

Under Cornell, who took charge last August, Target has been eliminating several thousand corporate jobs, revamping grocery operations and investing in technology and supply chain.