NEW YORK (AP) — Target has poached Nordstrom for its new chief merchandising officer, a crucial position and the one who determines what appears on store shelves.
Mark Tritton was president of Nordstrom Product Group where he oversaw the merchandising, design, manufacturing, marketing and omnichannel distribution of more than 50 private-label brands across Nordstrom’s full-price and off-price portfolio.
The Minneapolis company on Tuesday also said that Jason Goldberger, president of Target.com, will be adding the title of chief digital officer, a new position for the chain.
Both Tritton and Goldberger will report to CEO and Chairman Brian Cornell. The appointments are effective June 5.
Tritton fills the hole left by Kathryn Tesija, who stepped aside almost a year ago and left the company this spring.
In his new role, Tritton will oversee buying, product design and development, sourcing, visual merchandising strategy and merchandising transformation for the retailer.
During his tenure at Nordstrom Inc., Tritton and his team doubled the department store’s private-label business.
The appointments are the latest in a string of leadership changes spearheaded by Cornell, who is overhauling Target’s operations in a very tough retail environment. Target is sprucing up its assortment and the presentation of its merchandise. Target is focusing on key categories like fashion, home furnishing and baby products. It’s also expanding its online services to cater to shoppers increasingly shifting their purchases online.
Target has seen rebounding sales but challenges remain, including a growing threat from Amazon.com Inc., which could topple Macy’s Inc. as the largest apparel seller next year.
“Target and big box retail peers are in a dogfight with Amazon for the hearts, minds and wallets of the U.S. consumer,” wrote Greg Melich, an analyst at research firm Evercore, in a report published Tuesday. “Adding Mark solidifies Target’s leadership and should aid in their efforts to develop differentiated apparel offerings over time.”
Target Corp. reports first-quarter earnings before the opening bell Wednesday.
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