H&R Block taps former Target and Uber exec as CEO

The man who resigned from the number two position at Uber after six months on the job has been named chief executive of the nation's largest tax preparer.



H&R Block named Jeffrey J. Jones II president and CEO, effective Oct. 9, 2017. He will succeed Tom Gerke, who will continue to serve as interim president and CEO until then. Gerke will remain general counsel and chief administrative officer.



Jones resigned as president of ride sharing at Uber in March. In a statement at the time, he commented that "the beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber."



Prior to Uber, Jones was executive VP and chief marketing officer at Target Corporation from 2012 to 2016. He served as a key member of Target’s executive leadership team and helped lead the brand and business back from the 2013 data breach, launching a variety of major initiatives that drove traffic, brand affinity and loyalty.



Prior to Target, Jones held executive and leadership roles for The Gap, The Coca-Cola Company and Leo Burnett where he served General Motors, MillerCoors and Procter & Gamble, and founded Burnett’s subsidiary company, LB Works, which focused on technology solutions.



“One of our core corporate values is ‘We Do the Right Thing,’” said Robert A. Gerard, chairman, H&R Block. “There are few people who embody this more than Jeff. He is a transformational leader, one who deeply understands today's consumer and knows how to drive results in large-scale operations. Given his proven record of success in innovation and change management, the board is confident Jeff is the right person to evolve and grow our business in the years ahead.”