After more than a decade at the helm, Brian Cornell is going aside as a target managing director. His 11 -year -old kingdom saw the chain renovation stores, combine online shopping and even shine during the pandemic. But now, with the sales that slip and the drifting buyers, Cornell’s turnaround has revealed.
It will remain as an executive president, but the leadership torch is moving on to Michael Fidelke, professionals for a long -standing target and current chief operating officer. The announcement, scheduled for February 1, 2026, was accepted with skepticism in Wall Street, with the actions that immediately fell by 10 percent in trading pre -market.
A retailer who loses the grip
Days of target glory of 2018 and the 2020 pandemic boom seem to be an ancient story. For three consecutive quarters, sales collapsed, putting the goal among the worst artists of the 500 this year. Analysts warn that the company, once famous to find out exactly what its buyers wanted, has now “lost the grip” on the demand for consumers.
Target CEO Brian Cornell stops while buyers abandon the brand | Credit: X/TargetThings
The critics argue that, by choosing Fidelke, an employee who contributed to creating the current strategy in bankruptcy, the Target Council doubled with the same thought that brought them here. Investors wanted a fresh vision, no more than the same group thought.
$ Tgt New CEO: “The company’s board of directors unanimously elected Michael Fidelke, Coo, to succeed Brian Cornell … Michael’s mandate gives him an unparalleled company and a basis for strong confidence in the team”. pic.twitter.com/inu3zblzkr– Alex Morris (Tsoh Investment Research) (@tsoh_investing) August 20, 2025
Of the recourse and an exodus of the customer
The last three years have been bruises, but 2025 has been particularly chaotic. The retreat of targets from diversity and inclusion programs aroused indignation, protests and even condemnation by the members of her founder family, who labeled a betrayal move. At the same time, conservative critics persecuted the retailer for the LGBTQ+ PRIDE goods.
Target CEO Brian Cornell stops while buyers abandon the brand | Credit: X/TargetThings
Captured among the cultural wars, Target has alienated both its progressive base and conservative customers. The result? A wave of bad printing, boycotts and even legal causes, not to mention collapse sales.
Target CEO Brian Cornell stops while buyers abandon the brand | Credit: x/nypost
Rates, trends and problems
Target has always been heavily leaning on non -essential goods and guided by the trends, the articles themselves that buyers are jumping as inflation bites. Unlike Walmart, where foodstuffs keep the coffers that ring, more than half of the target goods is discretionary. Add the growing mixes to the mix and target is forced to climb the prices faster than its rivals.
Target CEO Brian Cornell stops while buyers abandon the brand | Credit: X/TargetThings
The CEO arriving Fidelke insists on targets “Must improves”, promising more fashionable products and Shinier shops through an initiative nicknamed “Fun 101”. But with the fleeing customers, analysts are not convinced that a touch of “fun” will solve the deepest problems of the dealer.
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