Target appoints Christina Hennington chief growth officer, reshuffles leadership

By

Robin Driver

Published
Feb 17, 2021

American retail giant Target Corporation has announced a series of changes to its executive leadership team, including the appointment of Christina Hennington to the newly created role of VP and chief growth officer.

In her new position, Hennington will work to identify and pursue new revenue-generating strategies throughout the company. She will also have oversight of merchandising, which includes the company’s product design and global sourcing organizations, as well as enterprise strategy, insights and innovation.
 
The executive joined Target in 2003 and has played an important role in modernizing its merchandising organization, as well as in the integration of the retailer’s physical and digital channels.

With Hennington taking on a new role, Jill Sando will step into her previous position as Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, leading buying for all of the retailer’s hardlines and softlines product categories.
 
Sando first joined Target in 1997 and has since served in a range of merchandising roles at the company. In her new role she will report to Hennington and remain a member of Target’s executive leadership team.
 
Elsewhere, Rick Gomez has been appointed as EVP and chief food and beverage officer, a role in which he will be tasked with driving growth in Target’s food and beverage business. He succeeds Stephanie Lundquist, who announced her plans to leave Target earlier this year and will remain at the retailer in an advisory capacity through spring 2021.
 
Gomez joined the company in 2013 and most recently served as its chief marketing, digital and strategy officer. The executive’s more than 20 years of experience also include time spent at major consumer brands, such as MillerCoors, PepsiCo and the Quaker Oats Company.
 
In addition, Cara Sylvester is being promoted to the role of EVP and chief marketing and digital officer. In this position she will work to deepen affinity for the Target brand across all platforms, expanding the group’s loyalty program and in-house media company, and fueling digital growth.
 
Since joining Target in 2007, Sylvester has served in a range of leadership positions in strategy and merchandising, having most recently held the role of SVP of the home category.
 
Finally, Target is promoting Katie Boylan, who has been with the company since 2011, to EVP and chief communications officer. The executive has been leading Target’s communications function since 2017, but her expanded responsibilities will now also include the retailer’s social responsibility and sustainability initiatives, as well as its philanthropic activities, such as the Target Foundation.
 
By bringing its communications and corporate responsibility functions together, Target hopes to improve its capacity to understand and respond to developments in stakeholder expectations, by increasing transparency and driving positive environmental and social impact.
 
“The changes we’re announcing create new opportunities for key leaders to bring their knowledge and experiences to different areas of the business,” said Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell in a release. “I’m confident these moves will drive Target’s position as a best-in-class retailer today and well into the future.”
 
Based in Minneapolis, Target currently operates almost 1,900 stores across the U.S., as well as the Target.com e-commerce platform.