Target CEO Steps Down Amid Sales Slump and DEI Backlash

Brian Cornell, CEO of Target for over a decade, will step down in February 2026, amid falling sales and public backlash over the company’s retreat from DEI initiatives. COO Michael Fiddelke has been named as his successor. Though credited with modernizing the retailer and growing its e-commerce division, Cornell’s final years were marked by declining profits and customer alienation, particularly among Black consumers. Social media speculation suggests that Target may ultimately tap a Black woman to lead its turnaround, referencing corporate trends of relying on Black women for crisis leadership. The transition underscores rising tensions over corporate responsibility and inclusion.

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Source: BET