Target has revealed a series of executive leadership changes under new chief executive officer Michael Fiddelke aimed at accelerating the company’s growth plans.
Cara Sylvester has been named chief merchandising officer, having previously been chief guest experience officer. Lisa Roath has been appointed chief operating officer. She was earlier chief merchandising officer of food, essentials and beauty.
As part of these changes, Rick Gomez, chief commercial officer, will depart Target, and Jill Sando, chief merchandising officer for apparel and accessories, home and Fun101, will retire.
You May Also Like
Related Articles
“I’ve worked alongside Rick and Jill for many years, and I’ve seen firsthand the real impact they’ve made on Target during their tenures,” Fiddelke said. “I want to thank Rick for his leadership in service to our team and guests, and congratulate Jill on her retirement after a remarkable 20 years with the company.”
As these leaders transition, Target is conducting an external search for a chief guest experience and marketing officer.
On Monday, Target said it was laying off around 500 employees in an effort to reverse declining sales. The company said it would consolidate the number of districts to streamline its store field structure and better empower store directors. About 100 jobs will come from district offices and another 400 will come from Target’s supply chain. No store roles are affected by these layoffs.
The appointments of Sylvester and Roath follow recent additions to the board of directors and support Fiddelke’s focus on strengthening merchandising authority and elevating guest experience.
“It’s the start of a new chapter for Target and we’re moving quickly to take action against our priorities that will drive growth within our business,” said Fiddelke, who became Target’s CEO this month after serving as COO. He succeeded Brian Cornell, who became executive chairman. “These leadership changes align the right talent and expertise with key roles, and simplify our structure so we can advance our strategy with greater speed, clarity and accountability,” Fiddelke said.
As chief merchandising officer, Sylvester brings experience across digital, loyalty and marketing, and a track record of growing revenue, profitability and market share across categories. As Target’s singular merchandising chief, she is expected to strengthen and expand the retailer’s authority in style and design through its merchandising capabilities, product development, assortment design and partner collaborations.
As COO, Roath brings expertise leading an end-to-end retail operation, spanning merchandising, supply chain and stores. In her new role, she’ll focus across the full operation, aiming to improve speed, efficiency and execution that elevates the shopping experience.
“Cara and Lisa are proven leaders who deeply know our business and can drive change that delivers results,” Fiddelke said. “As they lead two of our most critical functions, we’ve got the right foundation to make bold strategic moves and executive our plans for Target’s future.”
The appointments are effective Feb. 15, and the newly named executive vice presidents oversee functions reporting directly to Fiddelke.
Gomez, who has been with Target for 12 years, served as chief commercial officer for the past year and eight months, prior to which he was executive vice president and chief food and beverage officer. Earlier he was chief marketing, digital and strategy officer and executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
Sando served as as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for the past five years. Earlier she was Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, style and owned brands. In recent years, she has played a critical role in reimagining Target’s multibillion-dollar-owned brand portfolio, including Cat & Jack, Auden and All in Motion.
The company also confirmed that it expects to report fourth quarter 2025 sales, full-year GAAP EPS and full-year Adjusted EPS in line with its prior guidance.