Fiddelke, Target’s chief operating officer, will step into the CEO role on Feb. 1. In the video message to employees, he said he’s looking forward to starting the job in a week and “this isn’t the first message I imagined I’d send.”
He said he’s “been meeting with a range of leaders and this weekend added my signature to a statement using our collective voice to call for calm, constructive dialogue and deescalation to reduce tension and keep people safe as that work continues.”
Hi team.
In one week I will officially start as CEO.
We’re about to step into a new chapter for Target, and I’ve been looking forward to starting this work with you for some time, but this isn’t the first message I imagined I’d send.
We’ll have time to talk very soon about our plans to move Target forward, but right now, as someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are.
The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful.
I know it’s weighing heavily on many of you across the country, as it is with me.
What’s happening affects us not just as a company, but as people, as neighbors, friends and family members within Target.
We are doing everything we can to manage what’s in our control, always keeping the safety of our team and guests our top priority.
During my more than 20 years at Target, one of the things I’ve loved is how we are part of the communities where we operate.
Since the beginning, we’ve given 5% of our profits and millions of volunteer hours to make them strong and vibrant places to live and work.
In line with that, I’ve been meeting with a range of leaders and this weekend added my signature to a statement using our collective voice to call for calm, constructive dialogue and deescalation to reduce tension and keep people safe.
As that work continues, looking ahead to next week, I’ll spend my first days in the field listening and learning alongside our teams, and then we’ll come together for an all-team huddle to talk about how we’re moving our business forward.
Our leadership team is activated, HR is equipped, and our resources remain ready to give you the care and support you need.
Thank you for everything you do for each other, our guests, and our communities.
