When Michael Fiddelke took over as chief executive officer of Target Corporation in February 2026, he marked a milestone few corporate leaders can claim: rising from an intern to the top job at one of America’s largest retailers.
Fiddelke succeeded longtime CEO Brian Cornell after more than two decades with the company. His appointment capped a 22-year journey through multiple leadership roles spanning finance, merchandising, human resources and operations.
He first joined Target as a finance intern in 2003 before taking on a series of finance roles, eventually becoming director of finance and later senior director of strategic pricing. Over the years, he steadily expanded his responsibilities, leading teams across store operations, employee pay and benefits, financial planning and merchandising capabilities.
In 2018, Fiddelke was appointed senior vice president of operations, a role that gave him oversight of Target’s vast store network and operational functions. The following year, he was elevated to executive vice president and chief financial officer, helping steer investments across stores, supply chain infrastructure and digital capabilities.
His influence grew further when he became chief operating officer in January 2024. In that role, he led efforts to improve the company’s speed and agility while strengthening its operating model and guest experience.
As CEO, Fiddelke now oversees more than 400,000 team members. He has outlined four key priorities for Target’s future growth: strengthening merchandising leadership, enhancing the guest experience, accelerating technology adoption and deepening support for employees and communities.
His tenure has coincided with Target’s efforts to scale omnichannel retailing, modernise supply chain operations and expand its digital ecosystem. Having worked across several functions, Fiddelke brings a broad understanding of the business that has shaped the company’s transformation over the past decade.
Before joining Target, he worked at Deloitte Consulting. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Iowa.
Beyond his responsibilities at Target, Fiddelke serves on the executive committee of the National Retail Federation and sits on the board of the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
For Target, Fiddelke’s appointment represents more than a leadership transition. It is also a homegrown success story, with an executive who has spent virtually his entire professional career helping shape the retailer he now leads.
