Target's chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke, is set to succeed current CEO Brian Cornell in 2026. Cornell will transition to the role of executive chair of the board of directors. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Target CEO Brian Cornell will be replaced by chief operating officer Michael Fiddelke in early 2026.

Michael Fiddelke, Target's current chief operating officer, will succeed Brian Cornell as chief executive officer, the company said in a release. Cornell, who has served as the company's CEO since 2014, will step down and Fiddelke will take over the role on Feb. 1, 2026.

Target, which has about 1,980 U.S. stores, has been the focus of consumer boycotts since late January, when it joined rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.