Target’s top marketing exec heading off to Uber

Photo: Jeff Jones



Target Corp. is losing its top marketing honcho just months before it enters its most important selling season.



Jeff Jones, executive VP, chief marketing officer at Target, will depart the discounter effective Sept. 9. Jones will be joining Uber as president, ridesharing. He will responsible for Uber’s operations, marketing and customer support globally.



Target is conducting an external and internal search for Jones' replacement.



“Since joining Target in 2012 as our chief marketing officer, Jeff Jones has modernized Target’s marketing and helped drive Target’s strategy, creating momentum for the company and positioning Target for the future," Target CEO Brian Cornell said. "He worked tirelessly to sharpen our focus on the guest and evolved our marketing capabilities to center on the important role digital plays in their lives. Under his leadership, the team has also produced a number of unforgettable brand moments from the introduction of #MoreMusic during the industry’s biggest awards night to notable moments like our 2015 holiday campaign, which exceeded all previous brand measures.”



Before joining Target in 2012, Jones was partner and president of McKinney, a Durham, N.C.-based advertising agency. Prior to McKinney, Jones was executive VP and chief marketing officer at Gap.



In addition, Jones has held leadership positions at marchFIRST, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Leo Burnett Worldwide, and LB Works, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leo Burnett, where he served as president and CEO.