Target Corporation has announced that CEO Brian Cornell will step down as the company’s leader after 11 years in charge. His departure comes amidst significant challenges for the Minneapolis-headquartered retailer, including declining sales, revenue, foot traffic, and stock value.
The reasons behind Cornell’s decision are clear: COO Michael Fiddelke was unanimously voted in by the board of directors to succeed him. However, the company’s struggles with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have been a major issue for some time.
In recent years, Target has faced criticism from the LGBTQ+ community and Black and brown customers who opposed the company’s rollbacks of DEI commitments. The backlash has led to declining sales, revenue, and stock value. In May, CEO Cornell acknowledged that the reaction to the updates on DEI initiatives was one of the headwinds facing the company this year.
The shift in leadership comes as companies like Costco and Apple have successfully maintained their DEI policies, avoiding declines in store visits and maintaining a positive reputation with employees and the public. However, other companies may face similar challenges if they choose to backtrack on their DEI commitments.
Pro-DEI activists are now focusing on Target, seeing it as an opportunity for change. The company’s decline has sparked a nationwide boycott led by Black and brown customers who demand more inclusive and equitable practices. With the new leadership, some hope that Target will make amends and return to its commitment to DEI initiatives.
The effectiveness of these boycotts will depend on various factors, including consumer demographics, market power, and government pressure. However, for pro-DEI activists, Target’s shake-up has become a symbol of resistance against corporate America’s turn away from underprivileged communities.
Source: https://slate.com/business/2025/08/target-ceo-brian-cornell-dei-boycott-trump-maga.html