Target said today that Michael Fiddelke (pictured above), who has served as the retailer's chief financial officer since Nov. 1, 2019, has been named chief operating officer, effective Feb. 4. The company also outlined some modifications to its organizational structure and announced the retirement of chief legal and compliance officer Don Liu.
As chief operating officer, Fiddelke will oversee the retailer's nearly 2,000 stores, its global supply chain network, fulfillment services including same-day delivery with Shipt, network capacity planning, enterprise operations, the teams responsible for building and remodeling Target stores and other facilities, and flight services.
"With his 20 years with the company, spanning roles across our business and most recently as our chief financial officer, Michael brings a diverse set of experiences and an end-to-end view of our business that will benefit Target and our continued growth well into the future," said Brian Cornell, chair and CEO, in a statement.
Fiddelke has held a variety of leadership positions across the organization, including finance, merchandising, human resources, and store operations. Before he was appointed chief financial officer, he served as SVP of operations, leading cross-functional enterprise initiatives across merchandising, supply chain, stores, and guest experience.
"I started with Target as an intern 20 years ago, and right away I knew I was joining a special company. With each position I've held across the organization, my appreciation for Target and the role we play in guests' lives has only grown,” said Fiddelke. “Operations are at the heart of how we serve our guests, and I'm looking forward to spending even more time with our team members in the field as we build for the future."
Target also said it will provide an update on Liu's successor later this year, at which time Liu will transition to a strategic advisor with the company until 2025.
Liu joined Target in 2016, previously serving as EVP, general counsel, and secretary for Xerox Corp. Liu also held in-house legal leadership roles at Toll Brothers, IKON Office Solutions, and Aetna.
"Don has played a critical role as a member of our leadership team and a trusted advisor to many across the organization. We appreciate his support as we identify his successor and look forward to celebrating him as he nears his official retirement," said Cornell.
The retailer also announced updates to its leadership in merchandising. Rick Gomez, currently Target's chief food & beverage officer, will oversee the retailer's frequency categories as chief food, essentials, and beauty officer.
Jill Sando, currently the retailer's chief merchandising officer, will oversee Target's discretionary categories as chief merchandising officer of apparel & accessories, home, and hardlines.
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