Target in C-suite shuffle; adds new position

Target Corp. is making a number of changes across its executive leadership team.

The changes, effective immediately, including the appointment of Christina Hennington to the new role of executive VP and chief growth officer. Hennington, who joined Target in 2003, has been instrumental in the retailer's efforts to modernize its merchandising organization, leading the industry by blending its physical and digital buying functions. 

In her newly created role, Hennington will have oversight of merchandising, including Target's product design and global sourcing organizations, as well as enterprise strategy, insights and innovation. As chief growth officer, she will work across Target's organization to identify and pursue revenue-generating strategies that deepen the company's relevancy with current and prospective customers.

With Hennington taking on the new role, Jill Sando will now lead buying for all of Target's hardlines and softlines product categories, as the company's executive VP and chief merchandising officer. Sando, who joined Target in 1997, has established herself as one of the industry's most skilled merchants, known for her eye for trend, curation and anticipating customers' needs across Target's multi-category assortment, the company said. Sando will report to Hennington and remain a member of Target's executive leadership team. 

Other appointments made by Target are below.  

• Rick Gomez has been named executive VP and chief food and beverage officer. Gomez, who has been with Target since 2013, most recently served as the company's chief marketing, digital and strategy officer. Gomez will leverage the deep expertise he has developed during his time at Target, combined with more than 20 years managing multi-billion-dollar consumer packaged goods brands with MillerCoors, PepsiCo and the Quaker Oats Company, to further accelerate Target's food and beverage business. 

After 15 years with the company, Stephanie Lundquist, Target's former president of food and beverage, announced her plans to depart the organization earlier this year. She will remain in an advisory role through spring 2021.

Cara Sylvester has been promoted to executive VP and chief marketing and digital officer. Sylvester joined Target in 2007. Since that time, she has served in a variety of leadership roles across strategy and merchandising, most recently as senior VP of home, during which she increased the product category's digital penetration to a leading position within the company and consistently drove strong sales and market share gains.

In her new position, Sylvester will be responsible for deepening affinity for the Target brand across all platforms, furthering the company's loyalty program and in-house media company, and fueling continued digital growth for the retailer. 

• Katie Boylan has been promoted to executive VP and chief communications officer. Boylan, who joined Target in 2011, has played a critical role in advancing and protecting Target's reputation during her more than 10 years with the company. She has been leading the company's communications function since 2017. Her expanded responsibilities will now include Target's social responsibility and sustainability initiatives, as well as the company's philanthropic efforts, including the Target Foundation. 

"At the core of Target's success is the most talented team in retail," said Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO, Target. "The depth of expertise across Target's leadership team in particular has been a critical driver in Target's winning strategy and the excellence of our operations. The changes we're announcing create new opportunities for key leaders to bring their knowledge and experiences to different areas of the business. I'm confident these moves will drive Target's position as a best-in-class retailer today and well into the future."