{"id":14522,"date":"2025-08-20T18:20:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T18:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/20\/target-ceo-brian-cornell-steps-down-amid-tariff-woes-and-dei-boycotts\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T18:20:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T18:20:25","slug":"target-ceo-brian-cornell-steps-down-amid-tariff-woes-and-dei-boycotts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/20\/target-ceo-brian-cornell-steps-down-amid-tariff-woes-and-dei-boycotts\/","title":{"rendered":"Target CEO Brian Cornell Steps Down Amid Tariff Woes and DEI Boycotts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Brian Cornell has been with Target since 2014. Photo by Jerry Holt\/Star Tribune via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brian Cornell<\/a>, longtime CEO of Target<\/a>, is stepping down as the retail giant faces tariff-driven financial pressures and ongoing public backlash. Succeeding him will be Michael Fiddelke<\/a>, a veteran Target executive who has outlined a turnaround plan for the Minneapolis-based company. The leadership change was announced alongside Target\u2019s second-quarter earnings report, which showed the retailer beating Wall Street\u2019s expectations on both revenue and earnings. Target shares fell 7 percent today.<\/p>\n

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Fiddelke, who has been with Target for more than two decades, will assume the role in February. \u201cWith the board\u2019s unanimous decision to appoint Michael Fiddelke as Target\u2019s next CEO, I want to express my full confidence in his leadership and focus on driving improved results and sustainable growth,\u201d said Cornell in a statement. Cornell, 65, will remain chair of Target\u2019s board of directors.<\/p>\n

Cornell, who has led Target since 2014, focused on digital investments, fulfillment services and corporate culture during his tenure. But his leadership has also been challenged by tariff-related financial strain, boycotts tied to Target\u2019s retreat from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and intensifying competition from Walmart<\/a>. Over the past 12 months, Target\u2019s stock has fallen by 32 percent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are far from satisfied with where our business is performing,\u201d said Cornell during Target\u2019s earnings call today. \u201cWe need to do better, and our entire team is focused on consistent execution, building further momentum and getting back to profitable long-term growth.\u201d Reaffirming its full-year outlook, Target projects a low single-digit sales decline in 2025 amid continued tariff uncertainties.<\/p>\n

Fiddelke, who began his Target career as an intern in 2003, rose through roles in merchandising, human resources and operations. He served as chief financial officer from 2019 to 2024 before becoming chief operating officer last year. Earlier in his career, he worked at Deloitte<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As CEO, Fiddelke told analysts he plans to execute a three-pronged turnaround strategy: restoring Target\u2019s authority in merchandising with a focus on distinctive style and design, improving in-store experiences, and deploying technology to boost speed and efficiency.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be blunt, we need to move much faster,\u201d he said.\u00a0He will also continue leading Target\u2019s Enterprise Acceleration Office, launched in May, to quicken progress on the company\u2019s growth roadmap and integrate data-driven decision-making across operations.<\/p>\n

Despite Fiddelke\u2019s deep experience at Target, investors reacted negatively to his appointment, as many on Wall Street had hoped for an outsider to steer the company. A June survey from Mizuho Securities found that 96 percent of investors<\/a> favored an external candidate over an internal hire for the CEO role.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Longtime<\/p><\/div>\n