Brian Cornell: The CEO Who Reinvented Target
Who Is the CEO of Target?
Brian Cornell has led Target Corporation as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since August 2014. The first outsider ever appointed CEO in the company’s history, his appointment signaled Target’s willingness to break tradition to address mounting challenges. Cornell took charge at a critical moment—data breaches, lagging sales, and fierce competition from Amazon and Walmart had left the retailer vulnerable. Within just a few years, he rebuilt Target’s brand, culture, and operations into a model of modern retail success. Now, after more than a decade at the helm, Cornell has announced he will step down, leaving behind a transformed company and one of the most remarkable retail turnarounds in recent history.
How Much Does the Target CEO Make?
In 2023, Brian Cornell’s total compensation was approximately $17.6 million, with the majority tied to performance-based stock awards and incentives. His base salary is a fraction of this figure, reflecting how closely his pay is linked to Target’s financial performance and shareholder returns. For context, Target’s revenues surpassed $100 billion annually during his tenure, making his compensation competitive with CEOs of similar Fortune 50 companies.
How Many CEOs Does Target Have?
Since its founding, Target has had a line of influential CEOs, but Cornell remains its current and singular leader. His near-decade tenure stands out in an industry where executive turnover is common. Prior to Cornell, leadership changes often reflected attempts to adapt to rapid shifts in retail. His long service has provided rare stability in a volatile sector, helping Target execute long-term strategies with consistency.
Is Brian Cornell a Good CEO?
Retail analysts widely regard Cornell as one of the most successful retail executives of his generation. He steered Target through existential threats—such as e-commerce disruption and the pandemic—while ensuring the brand didn’t lose its signature mix of affordability and style. Cornell is credited with:
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Elevating Target’s private-label portfolio into multi-billion-dollar brands.
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Redesigning over 1,000 stores with a shopper-first approach.
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Accelerating digital innovation, particularly Drive Up and curbside pickup.
In 2019, Fortune named him Businessperson of the Year, recognizing not just his turnaround of Target but his influence on the retail industry at large.
Where Did Brian Cornell Work Before Target?
Cornell’s career trajectory is a study in versatility across top-tier corporations. Before Target, he:
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Served as CEO of PepsiCo Americas Foods, overseeing brands like Quaker, Tropicana, and Gatorade.
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Was President and CEO of Sam’s Club at Walmart, where he learned the intricacies of big-box retail competition.
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Held senior leadership roles at Safeway and Michaels Stores, gaining experience across both grocery and specialty retail.
This breadth of experience gave him unique insight into supply chains, consumer psychology, and brand development—skills that proved vital in his overhaul of Target.
What Has Brian Cornell Done for Target?
Cornell’s impact on Target has been transformative. Key milestones under his leadership include:
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Massive store reinvestment: More than $7 billion allocated to remodel stores, creating brighter layouts and integrating digital pickup points.
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Digital acceleration: Same-day services like Drive Up, Order Pickup, and Shipt (acquired in 2017) became defining features of Target’s model.
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Resale and sustainability initiatives: Target expanded its circular product offerings, responding to consumer demand for more eco-conscious shopping.
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Employee empowerment: Minimum wage increases and broader benefits reinforced Target’s positioning as a more socially responsible employer.
The results are striking. Target not only survived the pandemic’s retail chaos but thrived, posting record-breaking sales in 2020 and sustaining growth into 2022 and beyond.
Conclusion
Brian Cornell is far more than just Target’s CEO—he is the architect of its modern reinvention. By combining digital-first thinking with a reinvestment in brick-and-mortar stores, he proved that traditional retail can evolve without losing its soul. As he now prepares to step down, Cornell’s tenure stands as a case study in adaptive strategy and bold decision-making. He didn’t just guide Target through crisis—he rewrote the destiny of a legacy brand and left a blueprint for how retailers can thrive in an era defined by both disruption and opportunity.
