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Inside the career of Brian Cornell, who ran Sam's Club before becoming Target's first-ever outsider CEO
Inside the career of Brian Cornell, who ran Sam's Club before becoming Target's first-ever outsider CEO
Áine CainJan 29, 2019, 19:25 IST
Monica Schipper / Stringer / Getty Images
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Target CEO Brian Cornell had decades of retail experience under his belt by the time he took the reins at the Minneapolis-based retailer.
In 2014, he became the first outside hire ever appointed as Target's CEO.
Before that, the Queens native worked at companies like PepsiCo, Sam's Club, and Michaels.
Target CEO Brian Cornell is unique among chief executives of the Minneapolis-based retailer.
In 2014, he became the first outside hire to take on the role as CEO of Target. Today, he leads Target's 323,000 or so employees spread across about 1,800 US stores, according to the company's website.
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Long before he became a major retail executive, Cornell spent his youth working odd jobs and low-paying retail gigs in order to put himself through college. He then embarked on a decades-long career in the business, during which he held down roles at a number of prominent companies like Safeway, PepsiCo, and Walmart.
Cornell got off to a rough start, and Michaels lost $5 million during his first year there, The Minneapolis Business Journal reported. The CEO resigned a little more than a year after joining.
Up next, Cornell headed to Walmart, becoming CEO of Sam's Club. The Wall Street Journal reported that Cornell accrued a reputation for attracting wealthier members to the warehouse club.
At the time, the retailer was reeling from a massive hack. CEO Gregg Steinhafel had resigned, largely as a result of the ensuing controversy. Cornell's selection was widely seen as an effort to bring in an outsider's perspective, according to Fortune.
"I have always looked at this company with admiration for the team, its capabilities and the strength of the brand — I'd say the connection Target has forged with its guests is enviable," Cornell said in a 2014 interview with the retailer's website.
Cornell developed a reputation as a hands-on CEO, often visiting stores to chat with employees and customers. In 2016, he even embarked on a number of home visits with different shoppers.
Under Cornell, Target has doubled down on its digital capabilities. And this past holiday season, the company saw the fruits of this labor when comparable sales grew 5.7% in November and December.
Cornell and his wife, Martha, have a son and a daughter. The CEO said that his daughter — a fan of Target — was particularly excited about him taking the job at the retailer in 2014.
When asked to discuss his passion in 2014, Cornell replied: "My passion is building loyalty and delighting consumers ... something that Target does extremely well."
