Target Corp. has appointed Cara Sylvester chief merchandising officer and Lisa Roath COO while announcing the departure of Rick Gomez, chief commercial officer, and the retirement of Jill Sando, chief merchandising officer for apparel and accessories, home and the newly created “Fun101” program.
Target stated executive leadership changes under new CEO Michael Fiddelke are aimed at accelerating the company’s growth plans, follow recent additions to the board of directors that directly support the chief executive’s focus on strengthening merchandising authority and elevating the guest experience.
The company added it expects to report fourth-quarter 2025 sales, full-year GAAP EPS and full-year adjusted EPS in line with prior guidance.
Sylvester (pictured above) was chief guest experience officer for Target and is now charged with strengthening and expanding Target’s authority in style and design through its merchandising capabilities, product development, assortment design and partner collaborations, the company reported.
Roath was Target’s chief merchandising officer of food, essentials and beauty, and now will focus on scaling Target’s style and design focus across the full operation, improving speed, efficiency and execution that elevates the shopping experience, according to the retail operator.
As part of the leadership transition, Target is conducting an external search for a chief guest experience and marketing officer, the company noted,
In January, Target announced John Hoke, former chief innovation officer at NIKE, and Steve Bratspies, former HanesBrands CEO, were joining the company board to aid in a refocus on delivering style, design and value through products and experiences grounded in deep consumer knowledge.
“It’s the start of a new chapter for Target and we’re moving quickly to take action against our priorities that will drive growth within our business,” Fiddelke said. “These leadership changes align the right talent and expertise with key roles, and simplify our structure so we can advance our strategy with greater speed, clarity and accountability. Cara (Sylvester) and Lisa (Roath) are proven leaders who deeply know our business and can drive change that delivers results. As they lead two of our most critical functions, we’ve got the right foundation to make bold, strategic moves and execute our plans for Target’s future.”
