Target Shakes Up Leadership to Boost Growth, Focus on Style and Design

Cara Sylvester named Chief Merchant as retailer aims to recapture its design-forward reputation

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Target Corp. is making leadership changes to simplify its structure and advance its strategy with speed. Cara Sylvester, previously the Chief Guest Experience Officer, has been named the new Chief Merchant. The company is focused on strengthening its authority in style and design through merchandising, product development, and partner collaborations. As part of the changes, Lisa Roath has been named Chief Operating Officer to scale Target's style and design focus across operations.

Why it matters

Target is looking to recapture its reputation for stylish and design-forward products and partnerships, which was a key part of its brand identity in the past. By streamlining leadership and elevating design-focused executives, the retailer aims to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive retail landscape and drive growth through its merchandising and shopping experience.

The details

Sylvester, an experienced merchant with a track record of growing revenue and market share, will be responsible for strengthening Target's authority in style and design. This includes enhancing merchandising capabilities, product development, assortment design, and partner collaborations. Meanwhile, Roath will focus on scaling the style and design focus across Target's full operations to improve speed, efficiency, and the overall shopping experience.

  • Target announced the leadership changes on February 26, 2026.

The players

Cara Sylvester

Previously the Chief Guest Experience Officer, Sylvester has been named the new Chief Merchant at Target. She has significant merchandising expertise across digital, loyalty, and marketing, and a track record of growing revenue, profitability, and market share.

Lisa Roath

Roath, who has experience leading end-to-end retail operations, has been named the new Chief Operating Officer at Target. She will focus on scaling the retailer's style and design focus across its full operations.

Michael Fiddelke

The CEO of Target, Fiddelke stated that the leadership changes are part of a 'new chapter' for the company, with a priority on fueling growth.

Rick Gomez

The former Chief Commercial Officer, Gomez has left the company as part of the announced changes.

Jill Sando

The former Chief Merchandising Officer for apparel, accessories, home, and Fun101, Sando has also departed Target.

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What they’re saying

“It's a new chapter at Target, and priority one through 10 is fueling growth. Cara is an experienced merchant with a passion for infusing style, design and value into everything we do and a track record of turning insights into elevated experiences. She's the right leader to drive change with boldness and speed – strengthening our merchandising authority, further differentiating Target, and delivering results.”

— Michael Fiddelke, CEO, Target (Forbes)

“I've also led reinvention and turnaround moments. Working across the whole portfolio has shaped my insight. I led through explosive growth, our home business during COVID-19. We know we have some work to do in style-driven categories, but we are clear about our differentiated position in retail. I'm really comfortable making bold decisions.”

— Cara Sylvester, Chief Merchant, Target (Forbes)

“Making great design is not just fashion collaborations. We're seeing [style] in food in high-frequency businesses like new popular mushroom coffee, which became one of our top-selling brands overnight. We can talk about our own brands and collabs with Roller Rabbit. We're making something that's normally exclusive very inclusive.”

— Cara Sylvester, Chief Merchant, Target (Forbes)

What’s next

Target is expected to report its fourth quarter 2025 sales, full-year GAAP EPS, and full-year adjusted EPS in line with its prior guidance.

The takeaway

By elevating design-focused leaders like Cara Sylvester and Lisa Roath, Target is signaling a renewed focus on recapturing its reputation for stylish, design-forward products and partnerships. This strategic shift aims to differentiate the retailer and drive growth in an increasingly competitive retail landscape.