Target Taps Google Vet to Lead Its In-House Media Company

Target Corp. has named Sarah Travis, a 13-year Google veteran, president of its in-house media company, Roundel.

Travis held several executive roles in marketing and sales during her tenure at Google, most recently serving as managing director of retail, Minneapolis-based Target stated in a news release. In her new role at Target, Travis will report to Chief Marketing and Digital Officer Cara Sylvester. 

See also: Higher Traffic, Private Brands Propel Solid Q2 for Target

Target's Roundel, like Walmart's Walmart Connect, launched to grab a piece of the digital advertising pie owned by Google and Amazon. The company (which was known as Target Media Network until 2019) looks to help advertisers better connect with consumers and more effectively track their ad spend by leveraging customer engagement data and purchase histories. Roundel users can target Target shoppers with marketing messages both through Target's owned platforms and off-platform channels; big-name CPG partners, according to the company, include Pepsico, Unilever and Johnson & Johnson.  

Roundel previously was led by Kristi Argyilan, who left Target in 2020 to join Bed Bath & Beyond as senior VP of brand innovation. In July, Argyilan left Bed Bath & Beyond to become senior VP of retail media for Albertsons Cos. 

Argyilan had reported to Rick Gomez, a 2019 WGB Grocery Game Changer and Cara Sylvester's predecessor in Target's marketing and digital chief role. In February, Target tapped Gomez to lead the company's food and beverage team.