Michael Fiddelke

Chief Executive Officer and Director Target

Last Reviewed: October 1, 2026

Executive Summary

Michael Fiddelke became Chief Executive Officer of Target on 1 February 2026, the end point of a 20-year career inside the company that began with an internship. He succeeded Brian Cornell, who stayed on as Executive Chair. Before the top job he ran both its finances and its operations, as Chief Financial Officer from 2019 to 2024 and Chief Operating Officer from 2024. He took over a retailer of more than 2,000 U.S. stores and 400,000 team members. By August 2026 he was reporting what he called encouraging momentum.

Career Highlights

• Chief Executive Officer and a director of Target since 1 February 2026.
• Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2024 to January 2026.
• Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from November 2019 to September 2024.
• Earlier leadership roles at Target across finance, merchandising, human resources and operations, after starting as an intern; with the company since 2004.
• Previously worked at Deloitte Consulting.
• Member of the National Retail Federation’s executive committee and the Retail Industry Leaders Association board.

Professional Journey

Fiddelke earned a B.S. in industrial engineering at the University of Iowa and an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He worked at Deloitte Consulting before joining Target, where he started as an intern.

He has been at Target since 2004. Over the next fifteen years he held leadership roles in finance, merchandising, human resources and operations. In November 2019 he became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In February 2024 he added the role of Chief Operating Officer, and he handed over the finance job in September 2024.

In August 2025, after what it called a comprehensive succession planning process, Target’s board named him the next chief executive and a director, effective 1 February 2026. Brian Cornell stepped down from that post and continued as Chair in an Executive Chair capacity. Lisa Roath, previously chief merchandising officer for food, essentials and beauty, succeeded Fiddelke as Chief Operating Officer in February 2026.

Target describes itself as bringing together style, design and value across more than 2,000 U.S. stores and online, powered by more than 400,000 team members. Fiddelke’s stated priorities are leading with merchandising authority, elevating the guest experience, accelerating technology and strengthening team and communities. In its second-quarter 2026 results Target raised its full-year sales outlook to growth of around 5 percent. Fiddelke said the company had cut prices on more than 10,000 frequently purchased items over the past year. He said he was “encouraged by the progress” while there was “still meaningful work ahead”.

He also serves on the executive committee of the National Retail Federation and the board of the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

Education

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

MBA

University of Iowa

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering