Target CDO Departs, New eCommerce Strategy In The Works?

In a shakeup that may impact the digital initiatives of retailing giant Target Corp., the firm said on Friday (Sept. 23) that its chief digital officer has left the company amid an eCommerce shakeup that Reuters said is designed to bring online sales into greater competition against behemoths such as Amazon.

Target’s CDO, Jason Goldberger, has left the firm and had been with Target for four years. Now, his role will be “split” between two other senior executives, Chief Information Officer Mike McNamara and Chief Merchandising Officer Mike Tritton. McNamara will oversee the website and actual digital strategy, and Tritton’s duties will be tied to promotion and pricing, the firm said.

Reuters noted that this is the “second high-profile exit” at the retailer in less than a month, coming after the announcement that Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Jones left Target for Uber Technologies, the ride-hailing firm.

Reuters said that online sales are 3 percent of Target’s overall top line and have been growing at roughly 30 percent, below the targeted 40 percent set by management in the past. The eCommerce efforts for Target going forward will encompass $1.8 billion this year and $2 billion annually thereafter.