Target shuffles top executives amid sales slump

Target has promoted Cristina Hennington and Rick Gomez to new leadership positions and named Lisa Roath, currently chief marketing officer, to oversee the food and beauty categories.

The moves come as the company has struggled to drive sales growth, with comparable-store sales down 3.7% in the first quarter, following a year in which overall sales fell 1.7%.

Hennington, who had been chief growth officer, was named chief strategy and growth officer, and Gomez, who had been chief food, essentials, and beauty officer, was named chief commercial officer.

Roath, who was named chief marketing officer last year and was credited with leading successful campaigns such as “Target Lady” and “That Target Feeling,” was named chief merchandising officer of food, essentials and beauty, effective early next year. She will remain chief marketing officer until a successor is found, the company said.

“As we execute our 2024 plans and look to the future, we’re putting key leaders and capabilities in place to sustain profitable growth over the long term,” said Brian Cornell, chair and CEO.

The announcement follows Target’s appointment in January of Michael Fiddelke as chief operating officer.

Hennington, who joined Target in 2003, has spearheaded several key initiatives, including Target’s 2015 sale of its pharmacies to CVS and its 2020 partnership with Ulta Beauty. As chief strategy and growth officer, she will work with other top executives on the company’s growth strategies and on the modernization of its operations, including leveraging technology and generative AI. She will continue to report to Cornell.

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Gomez, who joined Target in 2013, was named chief food and beverage officer in 2021 after a career in the food industry that included stints at MillerCoors and PepsiCo. As chief commercial officer, he will oversee all of Target’s merchandising, including the apparel and accessories, home, hardlines, food, essentials and beauty product categories, and private label sourcing and design.

Roath, who joined Target in 2006, has held several leadership positions at the company, including senior VP of food and beverage merchandising and VP of essentials merchandising. She played a lead role in the design and rollout of a large-scale transformation of Target’s merchandising organization, as well as the establishment of the retailer's price and promotions center of excellence, the company said.

“Lisa will be an important addition to Rick’s leadership team when she moves into her new role in 2025, bringing her prior experience and accomplishments leading our food and essentials businesses,” Cornell said. “In the meantime, we'll conduct a thorough search for a top brand marketer to succeed Lisa and build on our strong marketing foundation.”

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