Target's strategic orientation and its performance in the extremely competitive retail industry can be attributed in large part to Target's chair and CEO, Brian Cornell.
Cornell has been a tremendous asset to Target as a leader, helping to take the company to new heights since he joined in 2014.
With Cornell at the helm, Target has developed to the point where it has roughly 2,000 locations across all 50 states. In order to further strengthen its position in the worldwide market, the company has set up a shop in India and built a formidable global supply chain and sourcing activities.
Cornell's investment in digital, analytics, and supply chain capabilities was a game-changer because of his vision. He saw the value in having Target's well-known shops serve as centers for both in-person shopping and online order fulfillment, so he worked to integrate the two channels.
Despite initial doubts, Target's strategy shift ended up being a major success. As an added bonus, the 2017 acquisition of Shipt catapulted the company to the forefront of same-day, store-based fulfillment services, resulting in growth rates not witnessed in the industry in over sixty years.
Cornell's exceptional leadership has received widespread praise. In 2023, he received UCLA's John Wooden Global Leadership Award, given to people who exhibit the integrity, ethics, and excellent leadership that were hallmarks of the late basketball coach John Wooden.
Cornell was recognized as a "Visionary" by the National Retail Federation in 2022 for his ability to create and implement novel retail ideas. Target has been recognized as one of the "100 Companies that Care" by People magazine for its dedication to its employees and the community.
Cornell's leadership is not confined to the confines of Target. He gives back to the business community by serving on the executive committees of The Business Council and the National Retail Federation.
The 2022 Corporate Award given to Target by the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) for its devotion to diversity, equity, and inclusion is additional proof that Cornell is serious about creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace for all employees.
Brian Cornell earned his bachelor's degree in management from UCLA's Anderson School of Management in 1981, marking the beginning of his successful career. Since then, he has led Target to regular recognition as one of Fortune's Best Big Companies to Work For and as CNN's Top CEO of the Year.
Target's continued success under Brian Cornell's leadership is a testament to his forward-thinking ideas, concern for his employees' welfare, and openness to change. Under Cornell's leadership, Target is prepared to adapt to the rapidly changing retail industry and fuel future development and innovation.