Will c-suite shakeup lead to better digital results for Target?
Image source: Target

Will c-suite shakeup lead to better digital results for Target?

Jason Goldberger, who was named Target’s chief digital officer in May, and who has served as president of Target.com since 2014, has left the company. On Friday, the retailer announced that Mr. Goldberger had left the company “effective immediately” and that his duties would be split between Mike McNamara, Target’s chief information officer, and Mark Tritton, the company’s chief merchandising officer.

“I have complete confidence that Mike and Mark’s leadership will have an immediate and positive impact on the team and the business,” said Brian Cornell, Target CEO in a statement.

Mr. Cornell positioned the change as necessary to “speed up decision making” and improve the company’s digital performance. Target.com achieved a sales gain of 16 percent in the most recent quarter even as the chain’s same-store revenues fell off 1.1 percent.

Despite its gains, Target is generally viewed as losing ground to Amazon.com. Walmart’s recent acquisition of Jet.com may have also been a factor in the executive shakeup even if not openly acknowledged by Target’s management.

Mr. Goldberger’s departure marks the second time in recent months that a member of Target’s c-suite has left the company. Former chief marketing officer Jeff Jones left to become Uber’s president.

BrainTrust

"If past history is any indicator, they shuffled the deck because what they were trying to do wasn’t working."

Dr. Stephen Needel

Managing Partner, Advanced Simulations


" I think Target.com had too many projects spun up by too many people trying to feather their own nests for their job evaluations."

Kim Garretson

Advisor, MyAlerts


"The shuffle will continue until they come to terms with who they are and why shoppers used to like them."

Adrian Weidmann

Managing Director, StoreStream Metrics, LLC


Discussion Questions

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Why do you think Target shuffled its executive deck? How do you expect Target’s digital efforts to change under Messrs. McNamara and Tritton? Do you think the change will lead to improved performance?

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Dr. Stephen Needel
Active Member
7 years ago

If past history is any indicator, they shuffled the deck because what they were trying to do wasn’t working. Target has one of the worst websites for any major retailer. Again, based on past history, I don’t think much will change except that McNamara and Tritton will be busier and shoulder more of the blame. So no, don’t expect better performance.

Kim Garretson
Kim Garretson
7 years ago

One reason I think Goldberger is gone is that Target.com had too many projects spun up by too many people trying to feather their own nests for their job evaluations. The result was that the critical projects to solve pressing needs sometimes took a back seat to the pet projects of others. I think Goldberger perhaps could not manage well in the Target culture (which is very ego driven) to get the most important projects launched. One of McNamara’s first moves in arriving at Target as an outsider (with a charter to make things happen quickly) cut the projects in IT and marketing from, from what I’ve heard, more than 450 to fewer than 90.

Adrian Weidmann
Member
7 years ago

Target, not unlike many large corporations, continually does things that from the outside simply miss the mark. Target decided to install a video wall in its stores with a questionable content strategy. Upon investigation the alleged driver that authorized tens of thousands of dollars for this was ” … so our stores would appear more modern.” Unfortunately this strategy will not work and shoppers expect more. In fact, shoppers are smart and would rather see that money spent in further discounts! Target has a burden to not only compete with Walmart and shopper expectations but also with Wall Street. As they focus on grocery they’re missing opportunities in their core retail wheelhouse. The shuffle will continue until they come to terms with who they are and why shoppers used to like them.