Brian Cornell is a prominent retail executive who has served as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Target Corporation since August 2014.[1][3] He is the first outsider to be appointed as Target's CEO, brought in to lead the company's turnaround following a major data breach and leadership transition.[2] Cornell holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA (1981) and attended the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and the Executive Program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business.[1] Prior to joining Target, he accumulated over 30 years of experience in escalating leadership positions across major retail and consumer product companies, holding three CEO roles during his career.[3][5] His professional background includes significant time in North America, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, providing him with global business perspectives.[3] During his tenure at Target, Cornell has been credited with transformative leadership that revitalized the company.[1] He implemented a strategic direction focused on digital integration, supply chain modernization, and private-label brand development.[3][4] A pivotal decision was placing Target's store network at the center of both physical shopping and digital fulfillment—a counterintuitive move that proved highly successful.[4] The 2017 acquisition of Shipt further strengthened Target's same-day, store-based fulfillment capabilities, driving the company's strongest growth in its 60-year history.[4] Under his leadership, Target grew by tens of billions of dollars.[3] Beyond his CEO role, Cornell has received numerous accolades. He was inducted into the World Retail Congress Hall of Fame in 2025 and received the National Retail Federation's "Visionary" award.[3] CNN named him Top CEO of the Year, and UCLA honored him with the John Wooden Global Leadership Award.[3] As of February 1, 2026, Cornell is transitioning to the role of Executive Chair of Target's Board of Directors.[3] He currently serves as non-executive chairman of Yum! Brands and chairs The Business Council.[3]