WASHINGTON, September 14, 2021 – The National Retail Federation today
announced that Target Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian
Cornell will receive The Visionary award, given each year to an
outstanding retail industry leader. The award will be presented during
the seventh annual NRF Foundation Honors [2] on January 16 in New York
City.
“Brian Cornell’s purpose-driven leadership and strategic vision
reflect an unwavering commitment to his team, and a keen ability to cut
through the noise and truly understand what American families want and
need,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “From spearheading
billions of dollars in investments in Target’s team and bold business
strategy, to cultivating a culture of care among hundreds of thousands
of employees, to helping guide the industry throughout the challenges of
the pandemic, Brian is an inspiring and innovative leader committed to
making a positive impact inside and outside his company. Brian’s
career and servant leadership are exemplary of why The Visionary award
was created.”
The Visionary award is presented each year to a retail executive who has
driven positive change for the industry. Cornell was selected for his
success in creating a business model and culture that stems from
Target’s core purpose: Helping all families discover the joy of
everyday life. He has prioritized investing in team members and placing
stores at the center of Target’s omnichannel strategy to better serve
the thousands of communities Target reaches.
Past recipients include Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass; Nike Chairman,
President and CEO Mark Parker; Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon;
and Levi Strauss & Co. President and CEO Chip Bergh.
“Years of bold investments in our strategy and capabilities have
enabled our team to meet the needs of American consumers in any
environment, including through the unprecedented challenges of the
pandemic,” Cornell said. “I couldn’t be more grateful to NRF for
recognizing how Target’s 350,000 team members are putting our purpose
and values, our unique business strengths, and our size and scale to
work for all families, as we drive toward better outcomes for all people
and the planet.”
Cornell will also be featured as a keynote speaker at NRF’s 110th
annual convention, NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show [3]. Nearly 30,000
retailers, vendors and industry leaders from countries around the world
will gather in-person in New York City January 16-18 to showcase the
next chapter of retail.
Cornell joined Target in 2014 as chairman and CEO. He leads the
organization’s global business, including the company’s more than
1,900 U.S. stores, digital properties, supply chain and sourcing
operations. During his tenure, he has established a strategic direction
that builds on Target’s strengths as a multicategory mass merchandiser
with a reputation for its shopping experience, design expertise, brand
curation and brand development. Cornell and his team have invested
heavily in digital, data and supply chain capabilities, placing the
company’s fleet of stores at the center both of physical shopping and
digital fulfillment, and solidifying Target’s position as one of
today’s leading retailers. He has also spearheaded ongoing investments
in wages, benefits, training and development, and diverse and equitable
representation for the Target team.
Prior to Target, Cornell spent more than 30 years in leadership
positions at leading retail and consumer-product companies. Past roles
include CEO of renowned brands including Michaels, Sam’s Club and
PepsiCo Americas Foods, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, and Chief Marketing
Officer at Safeway Inc.
Since 2015, the NRF Foundation Honors has raised the funds to continue
to provide programs and resources that connect people to an industry
that is a great place to start and grow. The Honors celebrates the
retail professionals building better lives and stronger communities and
is the NRF Foundation’s biggest stage for telling the story of how
retail builds extraordinary careers.
More information is available at Nrffoundation.org/honors [4]. Media
interested in covering the event should contact NRF’s media team at
press@nrf.com.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade
association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and
ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington,
D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the
nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion
to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million
working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every
retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating
the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global
economies. NRF.com [5]
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at more
than 1,900 stores and at Target.com [6], with the purpose of helping all
families discover the joy of everyday life. Since 1946, Target has given
5% of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars
a week.